FOUR UN special rapporteurs and an independent expert have sent a letter to the British government warning that the ban on Palestine Action is “not justified” and violates human rights.

The letter was originally sent on September 12, but its publication has been delayed for two months — the usual period given to allow the government time to respond.

Palestine Action, a direct action group which targeted Israeli arms firms, has been banned and designated a terrorist organisation since July 5.

The letter condemns the proscription as giving rise to “disproportionate restrictions” on the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and warns that “mere property damage is not sufficient to constitute terrorism according to international standards.”

The UN special rapporteurs highlight that designating groups as terrorist when they are not genuinely so is more common in states that are “authoritarian and lack legal and political cultures of respect for human rights.”

They also raised concerns over mass arrests under the Terrorism Act for supporting Palestine Action.

More than 1,500 people have been detained during protests calling for the ban to be lifted while holding signs reading: “I support Palestine Action. I oppose genocide.”

The letter highlighted the case of 75-year-old Heather Brunskell-Evans, who was arrested under the Terrorism Act and held in a cell for nine hours after one such protest.

Her bail conditions ban her from taking part in demonstrations on any topic in the Westminster borough and restrict her to two addresses.

The letter noted that some offences do not meet legal standards under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, particularly the offence of wearing clothing or carrying articles where it arouses “reasonable suspicion” of membership or support.

A spokesperson from Defend Our Juries, the group co-ordinating the Lift the Ban protests, said: “By weaponising the counter-terror regime against a domestic direct action group, the government has launched a severe attack on the rights and freedoms of the British public, in order to protect the Israeli weapons industry which is arming the Gaza genocide.

“Next week DOJ will commence the largest wave of our civil disobedience campaign against the proscription so far.

“More than 18 towns and cities will silently hold signs in opposition to the genocide and the ban, coinciding with the judicial review against the proscription.”

The Home Office was contacted for comment.