The international Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir has been officially designated as a terrorist organisation, the UK’s Home Office announced.
On Monday, the government said that Hizb ut-Tahrir’s praise of the Oct. 7 attacks and associated incidents in Israel, as well as describing Hamas as “heroes” on their central website “constitutes promoting and encouraging terrorism.”
The proposal has to be debated and is subject to Parliament’s backing but, if agreed, a ban on the group would come into force on Friday.
‘An Antisemitic Organisation’
Home Secretary James Cleverly moved to proscribe the group by putting an order before Parliament that would make joining the organisation illegal in the UK under terror laws.Mr. Cleverly said in a statement: “Hizb ut-Tahrir is an antisemitic organisation that actively promotes and encourages terrorism, including praising and celebrating the appalling October 7 attacks.
“Proscribing this terrorist group will ensure that anyone who belongs to and invites supports for them will face consequences. It will curb Hizb ut-Tahrir’s ability to operate as it currently does.”
A ban would mean “belonging to, inviting support for and displaying articles in a public place in a way that arouses suspicion of membership or support for the group will be a criminal offence.”
According to the government, Hizb ut-Tahrir is an international political group with a long-term goal of establishing a caliphate ruled under Islamic law. While its headquarters is in Lebanon, the group operates in at least 32 countries including the UK, United States, Canada, and Australia.
Founded in 1953, the proscription of Hizb ut-Tahrir includes the global organisation, as well as all regional branches, including Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain.
Several countries have banned Hizb ut-Tahrir for its various activities, including Germany, Egypt, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and several Central Asian and Arab countries. Austria banned symbols of the group in May 2021.
If approved, Hizb ut-Tahrir will become the 80th organisation to be proscribed in the UK.
Other groups that have been proscribed by the British government include al-Qaeda, ISIS, National Action, and most recently the Wagner Group.
Security minister Tom Tugendhat said in a statement: “Hizb ut-Tahrir clearly encourage and promote terrorism.
“Their celebration of Hamas’ appalling attacks on Israel, going so far as to call the terrorists who raped and murdered Israeli citizens ‘heroes,’ is disgraceful.
‘Cancelled and ... Deported’
In December, Conservative MP Bob Blackman said that one of the leaders of Hizb ut-Tahrir should be deported from the UK.Mr. Blackman called for Abdul Wahid, the chairman of the UK arm of Hizb ut-Tahrir, to have his “right to be in this country” cancelled.
He told the Commons at the time: “Abdul Wahid is the head of the UK arm of Hizb ut-Tahrir. He utters the most vile anti-Semitism possible, and indeed praised the attacks that took place on October 7 as being a punch in the face for Israel.
“Not only is he uttering this vile abuse, but he is also an NHS GP in Harrow.
“The reality is that there is a large Jewish community in Harrow and they will be fearful of going to their GP in case he is the one that sees them.
“Can we have a debate in government time on how we can root out these extremists from public service?
“In my view, his right to be in this country should be cancelled and he should be deported. But the reality is that we must make sure extremism is not allowed in our public services.”
