Hizb ut-Tahrir to be listed as terrorist organisation by Britain

Hizb ut-Tahrir is to be designated as a terrorist organisation by the British government, making support for it a criminal offence.

Britain said Hizb utTahrir’s praise for Hamas and the Gazan group’s attack on Israel was encouraging terrorism.

The Lebanon-based Sunni political organisation operates in 32 countries including Britain, the US, Canada and Australia.

Home Secretary James Cleverly has laid a draft order before the British Parliament to proscribe the organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000.

“Hizb ut-Tahrir is an anti-Semitic organisation that actively promotes and encourages terrorism, including praising and celebrating the appalling 7 October attacks,” Mr Cleverly said.

“Proscribing this terrorist group will ensure that anyone who belongs to and invites support for them will face consequences. It will curb Hizb ut-Tahrir’s ability to operate as it currently does.”

The Home Office said inviting support for Hizb utTahrir and displaying articles supportive of the group in a public place will be criminal offences.

Some proscription offences can be punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Hizb ut-Tahrir has organised rallies on the streets of London, which took place alongside pro-Palestine marches in the months since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war.

Conservative MP Bob Blackman last month called for Abdul Wahid, leader of the British arm of the group, to be deported, claiming in the Commons that he should have his “right to be in this country” cancelled.

Hizb ut-Tahrir was founded in 1953 and has been banned in Germany, Egypt, Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well as several Central Asian and Arab countries.

Austria banned symbols of the group in May 2021.

The organisation joins Al Qaeda, ISIS, far-right organisation National Action and Russia’s Wagner Group paramilitary in being proscribed by Britain.

“Hizb ut-Tahrir clearly encourage and promote terrorism,” said British Security Minister Tom Tugendhat.

“Their celebration of Hamas’s appalling attacks on Israel, going so far as to call the terrorists who raped and murdered Israeli citizens ‘heroes’, is disgraceful.

“We stand firmly against anti-Semitism and hatred against the Jewish community in the UK.”

The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism had reported to the Metropolitan Police about Hizb ut-Tahrir’s support for Hamas and asked the force to prevent the group from holding rallies.

The CAAS praised Mr Cleverly for his “significant announcement”.