Rooney and Thunberg Support Palestine Action Ahead of Court Hearing

UK Court of Appeal Hearing Set for April 28 and 29

A letter signed by over 130 public figures has been released, expressing support for Palestine Action ahead of a hearing in the UK’s Court of Appeal on April 28 and 29. The court will consider the government’s appeal to uphold its ban on the direct action group.

The letter, addressed to the Court of Appeal, includes signatures from notable individuals such as writer Sally Rooney, climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, and American scholar Judith Butler. Other signatories include British musicians Nadine Shah and Brian Eno, writers China Mieville, Lina Meruane, and Tariq Ali, as well as professors at leading universities.

The UK government proscribed Palestine Action as a “terrorist organisation” in July 2025, making it illegal to be a member of or express support for the group. The designation carries penalties of up to 14 years in prison. In February, the High Court ruled that the ban was unlawful and disproportionate, prompting the Metropolitan Police to refrain from arresting demonstrators supporting the group.

However, with the government’s appeal pending, the Met reversed course and arrested over 500 people at a protest earlier this month. Defend Our Juries, an activist group, has stated that signatories of the letter may be vulnerable to “terrorism charges” if arrested. The group also noted that the previous arrests of individuals expressing support for Palestine Action were unlawful but arbitrary.

Several signatories have expressed solidarity with Palestine Action and called on the government to halt its appeal. They argue that the decision to appeal the ruling rendering the proscription unlawful is a sign of the government’s “moral bankruptcy”.

Source: Al Jazeera