Scores arrested outside UK court as 1,500 Palestine Action cases cause meltdown

The British government's ban on Palestine Action has sent the criminal justice system into complete meltdown, with more than 1,500 peaceful supporters having their cases listed for a single day at Westminster Crown Court.

The listing on Thursday led to chaos that culminated in 77 arrests outside the courthouse, including that of former Friends of the Earth director Sir Jonathan Porritt.

The campaign group Defend Our Juries (DOJ) said hundreds of people facing terrorism charges for supporting Palestine Action had been informed their trials were postponed until October. However, some 1,579 people were listed on Wednesday for hearings on Thursday.

Letters sent to defendants contained contradictory instructions. One told the defendant they "must attend" the hearing before instructing them: "Please do not attend court."

The government banned Palestine Action as a terrorist organization in July last year. The High Court ruled the ban disproportionate and unlawful in February, but the Court of Appeal overturned that decision last month.

UK Court of Appeal upholds government ban on Palestine Action

The UK Court of Appeal upholds the government’s designation of Palestine Action as a "terrorist organization," overturning an earlier High Court ruling against the ban.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court said co-founder Huda Ammori could appeal, with the case to be heard later this year. Since the ban, thousands have been arrested, many for holding placards or wearing clothing in solidarity with the group.

At Westminster Crown Court, defendants gathered holding their notices and were given contradictory explanations by staff. One said her hearing had been listed for a courtroom which does not exist. Others were listed under different spellings of their names.

People arriving were handed letters addressed "To Whomever it May Concern", informing them that all cases had been adjourned to 26 October for an administrative hearing at which attendance is not mandatory.

Former government lawyer Tim Crosland said: "That is crazy. That's not how the court system is meant to work. You would want to come to a court concerning your case about a terrorism charge.

"You don't want the prosecutor in court without you there discussing how your case is going to be handled. It feels like there's been a real effort from the court to turn it into a kind of sausage machine."

Tony, a defendant, said: "If you're going to call me a terrorist, treat me like a terrorist."

Marji, a 69-year-old DOJ spokesperson, said she was listed for three hearings with two different spellings of her name. "Are there secret courts?" she asked.

Clive Dolphin, another DOJ spokesperson, called the court's handling "unlawful". "All of these cases are different, all of them involve different people," he stressed.

Outside the courthouse, crowds gathered to picket the hearings. The Metropolitan Police said 77 people were arrested. DOJ said two were arrested before the action for setting up a podium.

Among those arrested was Sir Jonathan Porritt. "Trying to save lives is not terrorism, exposing this Government's complicity in genocide is not terrorism," he said while being escorted away.

Thomas Bell, acting UK director at Human Rights Watch, said using terrorism legislation to arrest people peacefully supporting a protest group was "making a mockery of justice".

"Using counterterror powers to suppress dissent goes against democratic values and harms freedom of expression and assembly in this country," he said. "Andy Burnham, the new prime minister, needs to call for a reset."

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