UK Court Weighs 'Terrorist Connection' for Palestine Action Protesters in Landmark Sentencing Hearing

Preston, United Kingdom – A significant legal decision is anticipated at Preston Crown Court this Friday, where five Palestine Action activists are set to discover if their sentencing for criminal damage will encompass terrorism-linked offences. The individuals – Brendon O’Hagan, 28, Amanda Kelly, 31, Hmeera Atiqnisar, 31, Mohammed Malik, 28, and Alma Yaniv, 70 – were convicted following a direct action in August 2024.

The activists caused an estimated £212,000 (approximately $290,000) in damages during their protest at a Barclays Bank branch in Burnley, Lancashire. Their action was aimed at highlighting and opposing the bank’s significant shareholdings in Elbit Systems, an Israeli defence company. The five are scheduled to receive their full sentencing on September 4.

Legal experts have highlighted the highly unusual nature of this potential application of law. According to leading criminal lawyer Raj Chada of Hodge Jones & Allen, a firm that has defended numerous Palestine Action activists, laws pertaining to a “terrorist connection” have existed for years but have only recently and exclusively been applied in cases involving Palestine Action. Chada noted, “Certainly, in our experience, using the law like this is very, very unusual and appears to be being used to target Palestine Action activists whose offence predates the banning of the group.”

Crucially, at the time of the August 2024 protest and their subsequent verdicts, Palestine Action had not been officially proscribed as a terrorist organization. Neither the defendants nor the jury were informed during the trial that terrorism charges might be considered. However, following the verdicts, trial judge Philip Parry informed the defendants' legal team of his intention to consider whether the offence carried a “terrorist connection,” drawing parallels to a June case where four Palestine Action activists were sentenced as terrorists nearly two years after their criminal damage protest at Elbit Systems' Filton site near Bristol.

Further controversy surrounds the judge tasked with making this determination, Robert Altham. Supporters of the activists have raised concerns, pointing to a September 2018 sentencing of environmental protesters by Altham that was later deemed “manifestly excessive” by the court of appeal. Huda Ammori, a co-founder of Palestine Action, has publicly described Altham’s involvement in the current case as “shocking.”

The broader context of Palestine Action’s status is also significant. Lawmakers proscribed the group in July 2025, placing it on the same legal footing as organizations like al-Qaeda and ISIL. Since this proscription, over 3,500 individuals, many of whom are over 60, have been arrested for expressing support for the group. These arrests frequently occur during mass sit-ins in central London’s Parliament Square, where protesters display signs such as, “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”

In a show of solidarity, a group of “peaceful people” is expected to gather outside Preston Crown Court on Friday. The rights group Defend our Juries stated they would be there “to show solidarity with the ‘Barclays 5’, who Judge Parry moves to sentence as terrorists for spray-painting a bank,” despite the absence of terrorism charges during their trial. The group emphasized, “Seeking to prevent the loss of life is not terrorism. Opposing genocide is not terrorism.” Such developments highlight ongoing global debates around protest rights, civil disobedience, and the definition of terrorism, issues that resonate with civil society and human rights advocates across Africa, including in Kenya and East Africa, where the space for peaceful protest is also a critical concern.

This report draws on information originally published by Al Jazeera.