UK bans Hizb ut-Tahrir as terror group

The Sunni Islamist political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir has been formally banned in the UK, the interior ministry said on Friday.

Interior minister James Cleverly announced on Monday that he had begun the process of outlawing the group, which he called anti-Semitic and said "actively promotes and encourages terrorism."

Lawmakers approved his proposal to add it to the list of 79 already proscribed groups, which includes Al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State group.

The Home Office said in a statement that belonging to or "inviting support" for Hizb ut-Tahrir was now punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Anyone convicted can also be fined and jailed.

The UK government said it had moved to ban the group because of Hizb ut-Tahrir's "praise" of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel "and associated incidents."

"Hizb ut-Tahrir has a history of praising and celebrating attacks against Israel and attacks against Jews more widely," it added. 

"The UK stands strongly against anti-Semitism and will not tolerate the promotion of terrorism in any form."

Hizb ut-Tahrir's long-term goal is to establish a caliphate ruled under Islamic law.

Founded in 1953, it is based in Lebanon and operates in at least 32 countries including the UK, United States, Canada and Australia, according to the Home Office.

The group is already banned in Bangladesh, Egypt, Germany, Pakistan and several Central Asian and Arab countries.