"The British government risks stretching counterterrorism laws beyond their original purpose by using such powers against activist groups, a United Kingdom terrorism watchdog has said."
"The law's broad wording could without clearer limits risk pulling protest activity into terrorism policing, even where there is no intent to harm people."
"There is no legal authority on what serious damage to property means, Hall wrote, saying the definition could extend beyond violent attacks to acts such as criminal damage."
"United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned at the time that using counterterrorism legislation to implement the ban on Palestine Action risked hindering the legitimate exercise of fundamental freedoms across the UK."
The UK government risks misusing counterterrorism laws against activist groups, according to a terrorism watchdog. The banning of Palestine Action has raised questions about whether property damage qualifies as terrorism. The broad wording of the law could inadvertently include non-violent protests in terrorism policing. There is no clear legal definition of serious damage to property, which complicates the issue. Recommendations include narrowing the legal test to require a risk to life or a national security dimension. The government is appealing a High Court ruling that deemed the ban on Palestine Action unlawful.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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