Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The British government's ban on protest organization Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws was ruled unlawful by three judges, who said the move was disproportionate and breached free speech rights.
The High Court in London said the ban could stay in place for now to allow the government time to appeal and for the court to hear legal arguments. But London's Metropolitan Police said it will not arrest protesters for expressing their support for the group, but it would still gather evidence for possible enforcement "at a later date."
"We will continue to take an assertive and determined approach to dealing with anti-Semitism and other hate crime, acting decisively against anyone who tries to use the cover of protest to cause fear and distress to Londoners," the Met said in a statement.
The pro-Palestinian group was designated a terrorist organization in July by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government.
Several members of the group were imprisoned for their expressed support or membership in the group, and many went on a hunger strike to protest the U.K.'s actions in Israel. They ended their hunger strike in mid-January after the government decided not to give a $2.7 billion project to the U.K. subsidiary of Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems, which was one of the group's demands. One activist had been striking for 73 days.
