A grandmother has been arrested under Queensland’s hate speech laws after allegedly stating an outlawed phrase at a pro-Palestine rally.

Activist Helen O’Sullivan was detained on Tuesday morning as around 50 protesters gathered outside Brisbane Magistrates Court, The Courier Mail reports.

The state government introduced hate speech laws earlier this year that prohibited the use of phrases including “from the river to the sea”.

Police have alleged the grandmother used the exact phrasing of the since-banned slogan, according the masthead.

A Queensland Police spokesperson told SkyNews.com.au a 64-year-old woman had been charged “following a political disturbance” outside the courthouse on Tuesday. 

“The 64-year-old woman from Labrador was charged with one count of Recital, distribution, publication or display of prohibited expressions,” the spokesperson said.

She is set to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 14.

The group of protesters on Tuesday held up pro-Palestine signage and delivered speeches as 26 people faced court after being charged under the hate speech laws, The Courier Mail reported. 

Barrister Damon Boswell represented some of the accused and said matters were adjourned on Tuesday, with a High Court challenge expected to be brought.

Amid Tuesday’s protest, one defendant said he would be “definitely pleading not guilty”.

“The slogans have been banned unfairly … it’s claimed they’re messages of hate but that’s a false claim,” he said.

“It’s simply a message for freedom and justice, and people in Queensland should have the right to speak out.”

It comes after the Crisafulli government on February 8 announced sweeping reforms to combat antisemitism and “terrorist symbolism”.

“The Crisafulli Government is delivering a comprehensive package to crack down on antisemitism and terrorist symbolism, bolster safety around places of worship, and make Queensland safer,” a joint statement on the bill proposal from Premier David Crisafulli and Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said.

The reforms also made it an offence to use the phrases “globalise the intifada” and “from the river to the sea” in a way that causes menace, harassment or offence.