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Glasgow, Scotland – A year ago, 70-year-old Cathy Allen held up a sign that read, “I oppose genocide, and support Palestine Action”, in Edinburgh.
The July 19 demonstration was the first in Scotland to be organized by Defend Our Juries, the group leading the civil disobedience group Palestine Action.
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Allen was arrested a few days later, making him one of the first people in Scotland to be arrested for supporting what the British government considers a terrorist group.
“We have seen what is happening in Palestine, in Gaza, and we are afraid,” he told Al Jazeera. “If our government wants to take away our right to protest any type of murder, that seems to me to be a very serious matter. We need to do something about it.”
Allen and fellow placard holder Justin Kenrick are expected to argue before the Scottish High Court that their arrests are inconsistent with freedom of speech and assembly. They believe the positive outcome could set a precedent for future cases in Scotland and help in England and Wales.
‘Chilling’ effect of proscription in Scotland
Figures obtained by research site The Detail show 103 reports of terrorism related to the Palestine Action, more than half of the total of 193 terrorism cases launched in Scotland since the Terrorism Act was introduced in 2000.
Although the figures did not reveal the outcome of these cases, Catherine Smith KC, the chief prosecutor for Scotland, said that there are currently 54 cases related to Palestine Action.
Defend Our Juries says 24 people have been charged with carrying signs like Allen’s, while 16 others face similar charges for wearing T-shirts that read, “Massacre in Palestine. Time for Action.”
“The ban on Palestine Action should not have happened,” said Marie, a member of the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee Scotland who spoke to Al Jazeera. “The fact that they are being abused and misrepresented like arresting people for wearing a t-shirt is amazing.”
Across the United Kingdom, more than 3,300 people were arrested for opposing the July 2025 ban on Palestine Action, a direct movement aimed at targeting sites linked to the Israeli military. Of those arrested, more than 1,200 people have been charged with terrorism-related crimes in what many legal experts and human rights organizations say is an unfair practice.
Palestine Action is currently fighting the ban in the courts in London. On Friday, freedom fighters those linked to the group were arrested on charges of “terrorism”, though to be convicted of crimes.
The Scots, who are part of the Palestinian Authority, said the ban would cause confusion and concern, given the potential consequences of protests.
Mick Napier, a spokesman for the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign who is one of those facing terrorism charges, said, “Anyone accused of terrorism finds it difficult to travel abroad, and people can’t apply with the hope of doing well if they work in other industries – medicine, teaching, etc. – because you have to disclose pending cases.”
Only one person in Scotland said their terrorism charges had been cleared.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland told Al Jazeera that “as the court has ruled that the restraining order will remain in place, Police Scotland will continue to enforce the law accordingly.”
Challenge the ban in court
Following last year’s ban, co-founder Huda Ammori he appealed. Supreme Court called the ban “illegal” in February. The UK is challenging the decision at the Court of Appeal, with a decision expected on Monday. The ban will remain in place until the appeal is over.
In January, another trial in Scotland was allowed to go ahead, and the first trial is due to take place in March. However, in May, the trial was adjourned until Ammori’s trial. The decision was made after the UK Cabinet came forward to challenge their case.
“We saw it coming, so we weren’t too disappointed on the day,” Napier said. “But it would have been better if we had won legally.”
Joanna Cherry KC, representing Craig Murray, the former minister who brought the Scottish petition for a judicial review, described the results of the ban as “chilling”. He added that there is no connection between preventing “terrorism” and promoting freedom of expression.
Helen Gourlay from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign said she supported Murray in court because she believed the ban violated human rights.
“I feel that we, in Scotland and the UK, have a right to free speech,” he said. “I belong to the Palestinian people, and I think that genocide should be condemned… because our government is complicit.”
Napier expects the Court of Appeal in London to rule in favor of Palestine Action on Monday, but hopes the government will try to appeal again.
He said: “Then we will be a little dirty. But we will continue to campaign. Nothing will stop the many people who learned during this massacre.”
Meanwhile, protests against the arms trade have continued in Scotland, with activists targeting Keysight Technologies, which allegedly supplies the drone factory of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms manufacturer, and the Leonardo factory in Edinburgh.
According to the Campaign Against Arms Trade, the Leonardo website makes the F-35 aircraft guidance system “which Israel is using to drop 2000lb bombs on children”.
Unlike Westminster, the Scottish government has recognized the genocide and voted to boycott Israel. However, it is unclear what happened after the vote.
“If Holyrood’s (Scottish Parliament) announcements about the killings and boycotts are anything to go by, the Scottish Government must make it clear that it will not allow peaceful protesters to be prosecuted under anti-terrorism laws that have the power to prosecute,” Defend Our Juries said.
