‘Very unusual’: UK Palestine activists could be sentenced as terrorists

What the report says

A UK court in Preston is due to decide whether five Palestine Action activists convicted over damage to a Barclays branch in Burnley, Lancashire, can be sentenced with a terrorism-linked “connection.” The group was found guilty over a direct action in August 2024 that caused about £212,000 in damage, according to Al Jazeera. The activists were protesting Barclays’ investment ties to Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems.

The defendants — Brendon O’Hagan, Amanda Kelly, Hmeera Atiqnisar, Mohammed Malik and Alma Yaniv — are scheduled to be sentenced on September 4, but the judge first must rule on whether the offence should be treated as connected to terrorism. Al Jazeera reported that the court was not told during trial that such sentencing could be considered, and that Palestine Action had not yet been proscribed at the time of the verdicts.

Criminal lawyer Raj Chada told Al Jazeera that using terrorism-related sentencing in this way is highly unusual and appears to be limited to Palestine Action cases. He also said the legal approach has been used against the offence rather than the individuals themselves. Supporters of the activists have questioned the judge’s role as well, citing a previous appeal finding that one of his older protest sentences was excessive.

The case comes amid wider debate in the UK over Palestine Action, which was banned in 2025, and over the arrest of thousands of people who have shown support for the group.