By Ben Kerrigan-
People charged with supporting Palestine Action will not face court until the Government’s appeal against a High Court ruling that its ban was unlawful and “disproportionate” has concluded, the Chief Magistrate said. Thirty-one people arrested under Britain’s Terrorism Act for alleged support of the proscribed group were due to attend plea hearings on Monday at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. However, they were told not to attend after the High Court ruled against the government’s ban on Friday.
The 31 accused defendants have had their cases adjourned until April 27. Others who have yet to face preliminary hearings will be notified they are not required to attend court until the appeal stage has concluded, Mr Goldspring said.
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More than 2,700 people have been arrested for holding up signs reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” at public demonstrations, the protest group Defend Our Juries says. The demonstrators were opposing the government’s decision to designate Palestine Action a terrorist organisation in July last year.
The group engages in direct-action protests, sometimes involving spray-painting, breaking into and sometimes occupying buildings it says are linked to the Israeli military.
Critics of the UK government ban say direct action is a tradition going back to the Suffragettes and should not be equated with terrorism.
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Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring said: “In light of Friday’s ruling we decided that there is no merit in hearing the cases until we know what is going on with the appeal.”
He added that the 31 cases involving defendants charged under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which were due to be heard on Monday, would be adjourned until April 27.
Other defendants would be notified that they were not required to attend court until the appeal stage has concluded, Mr Goldspring said.
The Palestine Action ban remains in place as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said she will appeal against the court’s decision.
Proscription makes it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The protest group Defend Our Juries said more than 2,700 people have been arrested for displaying signs in support of Palestine Action since the ban came into force.
Nearly 700 people have been charged with a terrorism offence and have appeared in preliminary court proceedings, although no-one has yet been convicted.
But they were told not to attend after the High Court ruled on Friday against the Government’s ban, after a legal challenge brought by the group.
Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring said: “In light of Friday’s ruling we decided that there is no merit in hearing the cases until we know what is going on with the appeal.”
He added that the 31 cases involving defendants charged under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which were due to be heard on Monday, would be adjourned until April 27.
Other defendants would be notified that they were not required to attend court until the appeal stage has concluded, Mr Goldspring said.
The Palestine Action ban remains in place as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said she will appeal against the court’s decision.
Proscription makes it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The protest group Defend Our Juries said more than 2,700 people have been arrested for displaying signs in support of Palestine Action since the ban came into force.
Nearly 700 people have been charged with a terrorism offence and have appeared in preliminary court proceedings, although no-one has yet been convicted.
Image: Martin Pope/ZUMA
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