Britain on Monday declared the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir a banned terrorist organization, British Home Secretary James Cleverley said, according to Reuters.

A rally in support of Hamas organized by Hizb ut-TahrirPhoto: Yassine Mahjoub / Sipa Press / Profimedia

“Hizb ut-Tahrir is an anti-Semitic organization that promotes and encourages terrorism, praising and celebrating, including the horrific attacks on October 7,” Cleverley said in a statement, referring to the atrocities committed by Hamas militants against Israeli civilians on the first day. the surprise attack he made against Israel.

Cleverley, who held the home affairs portfolio in London after a government reshuffle in November, said praising Hizb ut-Tahrir for Hamas attacks and glorifying its fighters as heroes was tantamount to aiding and abetting terrorism.

British law provides that membership of banned organizations is punishable by imprisonment, and it is a criminal offense to promote such groups, organize their meetings or wear their symbols in public.

Those guilty of violating the law face up to 14 years in prison. The UK Home Secretary has the power to outlaw an organization if it is suspected of terrorism and if the measure is proportionate.

Hizb ut-Tahrir advocates a return to the caliphate and the introduction of Sharia law

Like Hezbollah, Hizb ut-Tahrir is based in Lebanon but is active in 32 other countries, including Britain, according to the British Home Office. The organization was founded in 1953 in Jerusalem, which was then controlled by Jordan.

Like the Islamic State, Hizb ut-Tahrir seeks to return to an Islamic caliphate and implement Sharia law. The organization views the history of the world as an eternal conflict between Islam and the infidels, and opposes the existence of modern states, which is seen as an attack on Islam.

Hizb ut-Tahrir considers jihad an imperative for all Muslims and makes no distinction between its spiritual dimension and the armed struggle aimed at subduing Muslim rule over the world.

Estimates of the group’s popularity are controversial: some say there are several tens of thousands of members worldwide, while others point to a million members.

Numerous countries have already banned the group, including China, Pakistan, Germany, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and all other Central Asian countries.

The Hizb ut-Tahrir group is also banned in all Arab countries except Lebanon, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates.