After the ban on Hizb ut-Tahrir… What is the fate of the Muslim Brotherhood in Britain?
British Home Secretary James Cleverly stated that Britain has declared Hizb ut-Tahrir, the International Islamic Liberation Party, a proscribed terrorist organization pending parliamentary approval.
Cleverly added that “the party’s praise for attacks and its description of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) as heroes on its website constitute encouragement for terrorism.”
If the text presented by Cleverly is approved by the members of parliament, the ban will come into effect on January 19th of this current year. This makes supporting the group a crime punishable by imprisonment for up to 14 years. Additionally, it may lead to asset confiscation.
The ban means that belonging to the party, promoting it, organizing its meetings, and displaying its logo in public places will be considered a criminal offense in Britain.
According to the London-based newspaper “Al-Arab,” the ban on Hizb ut-Tahrir indicates a clear shift in the British mood towards active Islamic groups in the country, especially the Muslim Brotherhood. These groups have been known for capitalizing on the climate of freedom to express conflicting positions with British values.
Observers believe that Britain‘s strict stance towards Islamic groups and the potential expansion of the ban from Hizb ut-Tahrir to the Muslim Brotherhood, if it happens, will encourage other countries in Europe and the Middle East to take similar steps.
It is widely expected that Europe and the United States will adopt decisive positions regarding the activities of Islamic groups and the organizations and associations they follow or operate behind due to their apparent widespread support for Hamas and anti-Israel sentiments in their activities and demonstrations.
