Retired reverend among 27 arrested after Home Office labels protest group a terrorist organization
London, July 7, 2025 — An 83-year-old retired priest, Reverend Sue Parfitt from Bristol, has been arrested in the UK for publicly supporting the now-prohibited activist group Palestine Action, triggering a national outcry over free speech and civil liberties.
Reverend Parfitt was detained on Saturday morning after displaying a placard that read: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” She was among at least 27 individuals arrested nationwide for openly defying the UK government’s new classification of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, Anadolu Agency reports.
Controversial Terror Designation Sparks Backlash
The Home Office ban, which took effect at midnight on July 6, criminalizes any form of support, association, or public endorsement of the group. Violators now face up to 14 years in prison under anti-terror laws.
The decision follows Palestine Action’s admission that its activists damaged two UK military aircraft — Voyager jets — at RAF Brize Norton on June 20, during a direct-action protest aimed at disrupting Britain’s military cooperation with Israel.
First Time UK Outlaws Non-Violent Protest Group Using Terror Law
This marks the first time in UK history that a non-violent protest group has been banned under counter-terrorism legislation. A last-minute legal effort to block the ruling in the High Court failed on Friday, allowing the ban to proceed.
Civil rights organizations, hundreds of lawyers, cultural figures, and even UN human rights experts have slammed the move as “draconian,” “chilling,” and dangerously authoritarian.
Palestine Action Responds: ‘This Is a Dystopian Nightmare’
In a statement, Palestine Action condemned the ban as an attack on democratic protest, saying:
“This is an attempt to usher in a dystopian nightmare that criminalizes thousands of people overnight.”
The group announced plans to appeal the ban, and said it will apply on July 21 for a judicial review in an effort to overturn the designation.
Wider Concerns About Free Speech in the UK
Reverend Parfitt’s arrest has become a flashpoint in the debate over freedom of expression, with many accusing the UK government of silencing dissent under the pretext of national security.
Civil rights groups say the broad scope of the ban may set a dangerous precedent, potentially impacting climate, anti-war, and civil rights movements in the future.
