Four Palestine Action activists to appeal against terrorism sentences

Four activists from Palestine Action are planning to appeal their terrorism sentences. Charlotte Head, Leona Kamio, and Fatema Zainab Rajwani, along with another individual who received an additional sentence for grievous bodily harm, broke into an Israeli-owned arms manufacturing plant in the UK in 2024. This incident marked the first time protesters have been sentenced as terrorists in Britain, despite none of them being charged or convicted of terrorism offenses.

The presiding judge deemed the property damage had a terrorism-like appearance as the intention was to influence the government and advance a political cause. The appeal will be based on three grounds: the damage did not meet the threshold for terrorism, the activists were motivated by a humanitarian cause, and the definition of serious property damage in the Terrorism Act is vague.

Fatema Zainab's mother, Sukaina Rajwani, expressed concerns over her daughter's lengthy six-year sentence and the restrictions that come with being classified as a "high-risk prisoner." The parents also worry about the 15 years of monitoring by counter-terrorism policing after their release. Palestine Action, a group known for direct action protests, was proscribed by the British government last year after a break-in at an RAF military base.

Co-founder Huda Ammori is appealing the decision at the Supreme Court. Seven other activists face terrorism sentences without a terror conviction for allegedly breaking into and spray painting US President Donald Trump's golf course in March 2025. Kieran Robson, Uzma Bashir, Ricky Southall, Autumn Taylor Ward, Rebecca Sian Davies, John Moxley, and Dylan Chiaramello were charged with criminal damage, with their offense being aggravated by a "terrorist connection" under Section 31 of the Counter Terrorism Act 2009.

The group's proscription has received widespread support, with recent findings by the right-wing think tank Henry Jackson Society indicating that the organization is still accepting online donations from British accounts.