Rahul Somvanshi
A new Banksy artwork depicting a judge striking a protester appeared on London’s Royal Courts of Justice on September 8, 2025, only to be covered within hours by court officials citing the building’s protected status.
The street artist confirmed the piece through a post on his verified Instagram account with the caption “Royal Courts Of Justice. London.” The provocative mural showed a judge in full wig and gown beating a protester with a gavel, blood spattering from a placard.
Court staff quickly placed black plastic sheeting and metal barriers over the artwork and stationed guards nearby. HM Courts & Tribunals Service announced the mural would be removed, noting that the Queen’s Building is a Grade I-listed structure on the National Heritage List for England which imposes strict preservation duties.
The timing is unmistakable. Just two days earlier, Metropolitan Police arrested 890 people during a large demonstration against the UK government’s decision to ban Palestine Action. According to the Met’s official press release, 857 people were arrested under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 for showing support for a proscribed organization, while 33 others faced charges for different offenses.
“All arrested were processed at a prisoner reception point in Westminster,” the Metropolitan Police stated.
The Home Office announced the proscription on July 1, 2025; it came into force after parliamentary approval on July 5, 2025 (Statutory Instrument 2025/803). This made supporting the group a criminal offense under terrorism legislation.
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While Banksy’s artwork faces removal, the legality of the Palestine Action ban itself is being challenged. Court documents show the High Court has granted permission for a judicial review of the proscription. The Home Office’s appeal against this permission is scheduled for a Court of Appeal hearing on September 25.
Several human rights organizations have applied to intervene in the case. Liberty and Amnesty UK filed a joint application, arguing the ban represents an overreach of counterterrorism powers. The Quakers religious group has also applied to intervene in the proceedings.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights called the ban a “disturbing misuse of UK counter-terrorism legislation” in a July press statement.
This isn’t Banksy’s first artwork addressing Palestinian issues. The anonymous street artist has created multiple pieces in the West Bank, including works on the separation barrier. His confirmation method—posting images to Instagram—has become his standard practice for claiming new works.
The Royal Courts mural continues his tradition of creating art that comments on current social and political issues, placing it in highly visible public locations.
