Palestine Action Judicial Review Begins – Challenging complicity in genocide and war crimes is a duty, not a crime
LATEST UPDATES ON ARRESTS AND CHARGES IN SCOTLAND
*Tuesday 25th November 3 activists visited at home and charged under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000
*Wednesday 26th November, 3 further activists visited at home by Police Scotland in plain clothes hoping to dole out charges of terrorism. 2 of the activists were not present on the day in question. One of whom reports that when they asked the police for photographic evidence it was refused.
SPSC Statement, 26th November 2025
This week the judicial review of Starmer’s government proscription of direct-action group Palestine Action begins. Starmer’s government attempted to stop the process from proceeding, and appears to still be trying to pervert the course of justice with the removal of Justice Chamberlain. This last minute removal of the judge who granted permission for the judicial review, without explanation from the Ministry of Justice is deeply concerning. In addition, their replacement of three judges with connections to government and pro-Israel organisations can only be seen as a move to manipulate proceedings.
The proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group highlights not only the repression of activists in Britain but also the urgent need to confront the ongoing systems that enable violence against the Palestinian people. The record shows that Palestine Action’s work has exposed the deep complicity of UK institutions and corporations in sustaining Israel’s regime of apartheid, occupation, and military assault. Their research and actions have drawn critical attention to companies profiting from weapons, surveillance, and technologies used against Palestinian civilians. Instead of addressing complicity and their duty according to international law to do everything in their power to stop the genocide, the state has chosen to target those who resist, deploying the courts as a means of silencing dissent and to criminalise solidarity.
Across the UK people from all walks of life have come together in peaceful, un-armed protest aimed at highlighting the absurdity of the police and governments overreach concerning the proscription of Palestine Action, and the attack on free speech on Palestine and our duty to stop Britain’s part in Israel’s ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. SPSC activists have been targeted by Police Scotland for decades and every trial that ends in acquittal or no case to answer for is a testament to our consistent and unwavering anti-racist values and a reminder that we stand on the right side of history. We will continue to work with Defend Our Juries to highlight the hypocrisy of the British state, and we will not be intimidated by police, or state attempts to silence, intimidate & harass us.
State repression includes imprisonment, and we extend our solidarity with the six imprisoned activists currently undertaking a rolling hunger strike at Pentonville Prison. Their hunger strike is rapidly becoming the largest prisoner hunger strike since the 1981 protests in Northern Ireland which led to the death of ten Irish political prisoners including Bobby Sands. Despite this, the story and demands of those on hunger strike today have been widely ignored by both the government and mainstream media.
The judicial review is a test of whether the right to protest, to oppose war profiteering, and to stand with oppressed people will be protected or curtailed. Challenging complicity in genocide and war crimes is a duty and not a crime. Regardless of the outcome of this judicial review, we reaffirm our commitment to:
• Defend our rights to free speech, to protest and direct action, especially when democratic avenues have repeatedly failed to halt corporate and state support for occupation and apartheid.
• Take action to hold institutions that facilitate Israeli violence accountable, from arms manufacturers to the government bodies that shield them.
• To normalise the boycott and isolation of the state of Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for freedom, equality and justice.
TIME TO TAKE ACTION!
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