Labour peer Baroness Chakrabarti has claimed that the ban on Palestine Action “makes a mockery” of counter-terror laws and should be reversed.
The Labour government proscribed Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act following a decisive vote by MPs last July, making membership of or the invitation of support for the group punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
But the former director of Liberty criticised the ban in an LBC interview with Andrew Marr on Thursday, calling it “counterproductive” and “disproportionate”.
Referring to the hundreds arrested at pro-Palestine Action demonstrations in recent months, Chakrabarti said: “All of these older people, wholly peaceful people who have flocked to this ‘I am Spartacus moment’, that does make a bit [of a] mockery of the law and people lose trust in the law and it’s very dangerous when that happens.”
The proscription is currently being challenged at the Supreme Court by the group's co-founder Huda Ammori, after the High Court ruled in February that the it was unlawful, providing Ammori the chance to appeal.
The full hearing on the appeal is due to begin on November 4.
“[I] would rather that a Labour home secretary stepped up,” Chakrabarti went on.
“Shabana Mahmood is legally qualified. She's a very experienced politician and well capable of looking again at this.
“It is open to governments and home secretaries under the Terrorism Act to de-proscribe based on changed circumstances.
“These are awesome powers to proscribe an organisation, and that should be constantly under review, and this is a very, very good moment to do that because people should have trust and faith and confidence in the law and the way it's being operated. It’s incredibly important to our democracy.”
To get more news, click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.