Despite Labour, Conservative promises, Britain opts not to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir

Britain is one of few countries in which Hizb ut-Tahrir is not banned; there has been a history of strange wishful thinking regarding the group, as last year, the government expressed hope the group could be a “safety valve” for potential “extremists” who were “tempted by violence.”

But the group has “not ruled out” armed rebellion in Tunisia for the sake of imposing Sharia, and in general, “regards integration as ‘dangerous,’ orders all Muslims to keep apart from non-believers and says that ‘those [Muslims] who believe in democracy are Kafir;”

HuT would certainly appear to be a prime candidate for inclusion in the government’s broader definition of “extremism” announced in recent days, which includes putatively non-violent advocacy for Sharia. “Updated anti-extremism strategy published,” from BBC News, June 7:

Home Secretary Theresa May has launched the government’s updated strategy for tackling terrorism by saying there needs to be better focus on preventing extremism at community levels. […]

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mrs May said the strategy had failed to tackle the extremist ideology which “inspires would-be terrorists to seek to bring death and destruction to our towns and cities”.

“In trying to reach out to those at risk of radicalisation, funding sometimes even reached the very extremist organisations that Prevent should have been confronting. […]

Critics of the government’s new policy argue there are some hardline conservative groups who have theological arguments to defeat al-Qaeda recruiters on Britain’s streets.

The target must not be al-Qaeda alone, or violence alone. It must be Sharia, if the British way of life, its values, and its freedoms are to be protected.

These groups now face being marginalised from government funding.

But Lord Carlile of Berriew, the independent reviewer of Prevent, said: “Many Muslims and Muslim groups have stepped up to the plate and are able to do the work with government and local authorities to deal with radicalisation.

“Government does not need to have truck with extremists, and it won’t.” […]

But Ms Cooper said there was a gap between Mrs May’s rhetoric and the reality of the government’s policy on terrorism, while budget cuts would make it more difficult for Whitehall to deal with extremists. […]

Indeed, especially as up to 70 “high risk extremists” are set for release.

Ms Cooper also attacked the government for failing to ban one radical Islamist group, Hizb ut-Tahrir, even though it pledged to do so while in opposition. Labour ministers said they would ban it, but did not.

Cameron himself called for a ban.

Mrs May said the government was keeping the group “under constant review”. ….

Posted by Marisol on June 8, 2011 4:20 AM | 11 Comments