Amnesty International’s UK CEO has written a letter urging parliamentarians to oppose the motion to proscribe Palestine Action ahead of tomorrow’s vote  

‘Proscribing Palestine Action will mean that by the weekend, millions of people living in the UK will have limitations on their freedom of speech’ - Sacha Deshmukh  

Amnesty UK’s CEO Sacha Deshmukh has written to MPs and Peers today urging them to oppose the Government’s motion to proscribe the direct action network Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.  

The letter - which comes ahead of a vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday (2 July) and House of Lords on Thursday (3 July) - reminds Parliamentarians that the vote is not a test of whether or not they like Palestine Action’s approach to campaigning, but that what is at stake is whether or not they are banned as a terrorist organisation, with all the ramifications for human rights that come with that.  

The letter reminds parliamentarians that the UK has for decades been able to respond to protest movements, some of which have used direct action and even isolated acts of violence, without deploying counter-terrorism powers. 

The Amnesty International UK chief executive writes that UK terrorism laws “have long been criticised by international experts for containing problematic, overly broad and draconian restrictions on free speech in relation to proscribed groups”, which would mean that “simple expressions of personal moral opinions” will potentially become “serious crimes”.  

Sacha Deshmukh said:  

“The question before Parliament is not whether MPs think that Palestine Actions’ approach is tasteful or distasteful, or even effective or ineffective.  If Palestine Action is proscribed this week, by the weekend any MP’s constituents wearing a Palestine Action sticker, badge or T-shirt could face a terrorism charge. Do MPs and peers really believe that Palestine Action’s activities justify such a grave misuse of anti-terrorism powers?” 

“The proscription of Palestine Action would be wholly unnecessary, disproportionate, and in violation of the right to freedom of association and expression amongst other human rights at risk should this harmful and dangerous motion proceed.” 

• To read the full letter, click here