Today in Focus The protest group the UK government wants to brand terrorists
Jun 25, 2025
Haroon Siddique, The Guardian's legal affairs correspondent, dives deep into the controversial classification of the protest group Palestine Action as terrorists by the UK government. They discuss Palestine Action’s disruptive tactics aimed at halting Israel's arms supply, raising poignant questions about civil liberties. Siddique shares insights on the implications of labeling activists as terrorists and the potential chilling effect on protests, alongside the political fallout and historical parallels to figures like Nelson Mandela.
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Disrupting Arms Supply Chains
- Palestine Action disrupts the arms supply chain by targeting Israeli arms companies and their UK associates.
- Their actions include occupation and vandalism to stop weapons production for the Israeli military.
Government Pressure Behind Ban
- Government plans to ban Palestine Action as terrorists likely stem from external pressure and embarrassment over security breaches.
- Pro-Israel groups and contacts between the UK government and Israeli officials influenced this decision.
Unprecedented Terrorist Classification
- Classifying Palestine Action as a terrorist group is unprecedented for a direct protest group in the UK.
- Similar disruptive protests in the past were not branded terrorism, highlighting political bias at play.