Home secretary lays draft order to proscribe Hizb ut-Tahrir

Home secretary James Cleverly has laid a draft order before Parliament to proscribe Hizb ut-Tahrir under the Terrorism Act 2000.

If it is agreed by Parliament, the order would come into force on 19 January and would mean that 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 would be a criminal offence.

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

According to the Home Office, Hizb ut-Tahrir is an international political group with a long-term goal of establishing a Caliphate ruled under Islamic law. The group was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Lebanon, though it is known to operate in other countries as well, including the UK, United States, Canada and Australia.  

Other countries, including Germany, Egypt, Bangladesh and Pakistan have already banned the group.

Home Secretary, James Cleverly said: "Hizb ut-Tahrir is an antisemitic organisation that actively promotes and encourages terrorism, including praising and celebrating the appalling 7 October 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."

Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat said: "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.

"We stand firmly against antisemitism and hatred against the Jewish community in the UK."

Image: By Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61323055