Palestine Action ban "authoritarian" abuse of power after RAF Brize Norton attack
The group's leader said the move would be "ill-considered" if it goes ahead
The leader of Palestine Action has told the High Court that banning the group would be an "authoritarian abuse" of power.
Co-founder of the group Huda Ammori, has asked the court to temporarily block the UK government's decision to proscribe the group as a terrorist organisation, after it broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire last month.
In the incident, two members rode onto the apron of the military base and spray painted the side of one military plane red, with the UK government expressing its discontent with Palestine Action's move.
MPs voted earlier this week to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, in accordance with the Terrorism Act of 2000, and is due to come into effect at midnight on Saturday (July 5th).
Under the rules of proscription, anyone found to be a member of Palestine Action - or supported its actions - could face a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
The Home Office has opposed the delay in its move to declare the group a terrorist organisation.
Speaking at a hearing before the High Court on Friday (July 4th), Raza Husain KC, representing Ms Ammori explained that she had taken inspiration from a number of direct action groups including "the suffragettes - to anti-apartheid activists - to Iraq war activists".
He added: "We ask you, in the first instance, to suspend until July 21 what we say is an ill-considered, discriminatory and authoritarian abuse of statutory power which is alien to the basic tradition of the common law and is contrary to the Human Rights Act."
Yvette Cooper - the Home Secretary - first announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action on June 23rd, alleging the group had a "long history of unacceptable criminal damage".
Police said that £7 million worth of damage after they broke into the military base, with four people charged in connection with the incident.
All four people were remanded into police custody and will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 18th.