The UK government has announced its decision to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir from organizing within the country, citing claims of antisemitism and active promotion of terrorism by the Islamist group. The ban would prevent the group from recruiting, holding protests, and conducting meetings across the UK. Hizb ut-Tahrir is already banned in several other countries, including Germany and Indonesia.
The move comes in response to criticism from ministers regarding the group’s involvement in demonstrations against Israeli strikes on Gaza. The home secretary, James Cleverly, emphasized that the ban is aimed at curbing Hizb ut-Tahrir’s ability to operate as it currently does, and individuals associated with the group may face criminal consequences.
The proposed ban, scheduled to take effect on January 19 pending parliamentary approval, would make it a criminal offense to belong to, invite support for, or display articles in a public place that arouse suspicion of membership or support for Hizb ut-Tahrir. Certain proscription offenses could carry penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
Hizb ut-Tahrir, which advocates for the establishment of a caliphate in the Middle East, has faced accusations of being a gateway to violent extremism by critics, including former members. The group’s leaders argue that they are law-abiding and publicly state that they do not support Hamas or advocate violence to achieve an Islamic state.
The decision to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir is not new, as previous attempts were made by former UK Prime Ministers Tony Blair and David Cameron. Blair, in response to the 7/7 bombings in 2005, vowed to ban the group as part of a counter-extremism plan, but the proposal was dropped. David Cameron criticized this decision, calling Hizb ut-Tahrir “a conveyor-belt to terrorism,” but no ban was in place during his tenure.
Hizb ut-Tahrir, with headquarters in Lebanon, operates in at least 32 countries worldwide, including the US, Canada, and Australia, with a long-term goal of establishing a caliphate ruled under Islamic law. The group, founded in Jerusalem in the 1950s, rose to prominence in the early 1990s and has maintained its position that it does not support violence or Hamas.
In response to the impending ban, a spokesperson for Hizb ut-Tahrir stated that the group would challenge the proscription in court, using all available legal means. The political struggle to highlight issues such as the situation in Gaza and the group’s perspective on restoring Islam as a way of life is expected to continue, regardless of the ban. Labour’s shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, welcomed the decision, supporting the government’s action based on available evidence and intelligence about the perceived threat posed by Hizb ut-Tahrir.
