Global Courant
The British government says the group is anti-Semitic and encourages ‘terrorism’.
Britain has moved to ban the group Hizb ut-Tahrir, saying it is anti-Semitic and should be classified as a “terrorist” organization.
Parliament will this week debate a proposal to make joining the group illegal in Britain under terrorism laws, the Home Office said on Monday.
“Hizb ut-Tahrir is an anti-Semitic organization that promotes and encourages terrorism, including praising and celebrating the abhorrent attacks of October 7,” Home Secretary James Cleverly said.
Hizb ut-Tahrir’s celebration of the October 7 Hamas attacks on southern Israel and descriptions of Hamas members as heroes on its website constitute the promotion and encouragement of “terrorism,” Cleverly said.
Cleverly put, the organization has a history of praising and celebrating attacks on Jewish people.
Shortly after the Hamas attacks and subsequent war on Gaza, the group called on Muslim countries to “assemble your armies and begin removing the Zionist occupiers.”
Former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and David Cameron tried to ban the group while in power, but both dropped the plans.
Founded in 1953 and headquartered in Lebanon, the group operates in 32 countries, including Britain, the United States, Canada and Australia. Its long-term goal is to establish a caliphate ruled under Islamic law, the Interior Ministry said.
The group has already been banned in several countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt and Germany.
According to the UK Home Office, if parliament agrees to the designation, the label will come into effect from Friday, putting the group on par with other designated groups including al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS ).
The ban also makes it a criminal offense to support the group, which would be punishable by up to 14 years in prison and could lead to asset seizures.
According to the government’s website, Cleverly may designate a group as a ‘terrorist’ organization under British law if it is deemed to be ‘concerned about terrorism, and is proportionate to do so’.
Labor Party Home Secretary Yvette Cooper welcomed the announcement.
“It is right that the government has urgently reviewed the evidence and intelligence it has on the threat posed by Hizb ut-Tahrir, and we welcome and support the decision to ban them,” she said.
“Those who incite violence and promote or glorify terrorism have no place on the streets of Britain and must face the full force of the law.”
On Hizb ut-Tahrir’s website last month, the group said its call to ban the organization in Britain was “a sign of desperation.”
