UK proscribes Hizb ut-Tahrir as terrorist organisation

The UK parliament has approved a draft order to proscribe Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist organisation.

The order means belonging to Hizb ut-Tahrir or inviting support for the group will be a criminal offence with a potential prison sentence of 14 years which can be handed down alongside or in place of a fine.

The group has now been added to the list of proscribed organisations in the UK, bringing the total number to 80.

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