Palestine Action ban is lawful, Court of Appeal rules

The government's proscription of Palestine Action as a terror organisation is lawful, the Court of Appeal has ruled. In one of the most significant rulings on national security in recent years, five of the most senior judges in the country overturned an earlier decision from the High Court that the ban had breached the right to protest and had been incorrectly taken by ministers. But five Court of Appeal judges concluded in a hearing on Monday that the ban had been "justified and proportionate". In a statement, the group's co-founder Huda Ammori said she intended to appeal the ruling to the UK Supreme Court - although it's not clear at this stage whether it would consider the case. Palestine Action has remained banned since the High Court ruling in February to allow for further legal arguments and give the government time to consider an appeal. The proscription made it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Thousands of people have been arrested at demonstrations in the months since the ban came into force in July last year. After the ruling on Monday, the Metropolitan Police said 117 people had been arrested on suspicio