Why is HTS banned in the UK and will this change now it has control in Syria?

December 9, 2024 Article

Rebel groups ousted Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria on Sunday after 13 years of civil war.

The UK Government now faces having to decide whether to lift a ban it placed on Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) after it swept to power if it needs to hold talks with the country’s new leaders.

– What is HTS and why is the group banned in the UK?

The Islamist militant group was set up under a different name, Jabhat al-Nusra, in 2011 as a direct affiliate of al Qaida, with so-called Islamic State (IS) leaders also reportedly involved in its formation.

The group has been regarded as one of the most effective and deadly of the groups ranged against President Assad.

HTS is banned in the UK because of its past association with al Qaida, the terrorist organisation once led by Osama bin Laden.

The group was added to the Home Office’s list of proscribed terrorist organisations in 2017, with the department saying HTS “should be treated as alternative names for the organisation which is already proscribed under the name al Qaida”.

But its leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani is said to have cut ties with al Qaida years ago and has sought to present his group as a more moderate and inclusive organisation. Although some still have doubts over whether HTS has completely renounced its links with al Qaida.

– What does it mean when a group is proscribed?

When the Government considers a group should be banned as a terrorist organisation, it puts an order before Parliament for a vote which would make joining or interacting with the group illegal under terror laws.

Under the Terrorism Act 2000, the Home Secretary may proscribe an organisation if they believe it is concerned in terrorism – which could mean it plans, encourages, participates or commits acts of terrorism – and the ban would be “proportionate”.

Around 80 groups are proscribed in the UK.

Home Office guidance issued earlier this year said proscription means “belonging to, inviting support for and displaying articles in a public place in a way that arouses suspicion of membership or support for the group” will be a criminal offence.

Under terror laws, it is an offence to “arrange or manage” a meeting “in the knowledge that it is to support a proscribed organisation, to further the activities of a proscribed organisation, or is to be addressed by a person who belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation” – which could make it difficult for the Government to hold talks with the new leadership in Syria if the ban remains in place.

Criminals convicted of proscription offences could face up to 14 years behind bars or be fined, according to the department, while resources of a proscribed organisation are considered “terrorist property” and could be seized.

– Can proscription of a group be removed?

Yes, but Home Office guidance states the Home Secretary will consider what is known as deproscription on “application only”.

Under terror laws, the organisation or anyone affected by the proscription “can submit a signed, written application to the Home Secretary requesting that they consider whether a specified organisation should be removed from the list of proscribed organisations”.

The application must set out the grounds on which the claim is made, with the Home Secretary being required to make a decision within 90 days from the day after it is received.

Applicants can appeal against the decision if deproscription is rejected by going to the Proscribed Organisations Appeals Commission (POAC) and then take their case to the Court of Appeal if that request also fails.

The organisation will be removed from the list of proscribed groups if deproscription is successful but in some cases where this is as a result of an appeal it would need to be agreed by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

It is unclear whether the Home Secretary can also move to lift a ban without receiving an application.

– Will HTS be removed from the UK’s proscribed terror groups list now it has gained control in Syria?

At the moment we do not know.

Cabinet minister Pat McFadden suggested a decision on lifting the ban could be made quickly if there was a need to hold talks with HTS.

But so far the Home Office has not confirmed whether the matter is being reviewed and – if it is being reconsidered – when a decision on if ministers will announce they are removing the proscription rules will be made.

Former head of MI6 Sir John Sawers told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips it would be “rather ridiculous” if the UK was unable to engage with new leadership in Syria because of proscription of HTS dating back 12 years.

“I think the Home Secretary will be asking MI5 and the joint terrorism assessment centre for a review of the situation about Tahrir al-Sham and whether it should remain on the proscribed entity list,” he added.

Downing Street said on Monday that the Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations “under regular review”.

It is “long-standing policy that we do not engage with proscribed organisations” but it is an “evolving situation”, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman added.

The post Why is HTS banned in the UK and will this change now it has control in Syria? appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: HTS, News, Proscribed, Proscription, Syria, Syrian rebels, UK Government

Why is HTS banned in the UK and will this change now it has control in Syria?

December 9, 2024 Article

Rebel groups ousted Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria on Sunday after 13 years of civil war.

– What is HTS and why is the group banned in the UK?

The group has been regarded as one of the most effective and deadly of the groups ranged against President Assad.

HTS is banned in the UK because of its past association with al Qaida, the terrorist organisation once led by Osama bin Laden.

– What does it mean when a group is proscribed?

Around 80 groups are proscribed in the UK.

– Can proscription of a group be removed?

Yes, but Home Office guidance states the Home Secretary will consider what is known as deproscription on “application only”.

The application must set out the grounds on which the claim is made, with the Home Secretary being required to make a decision within 90 days from the day after it is received.

It is unclear whether the Home Secretary can also move to lift a ban without receiving an application.

– Will HTS be removed from the UK’s proscribed terror groups list now it has gained control in Syria?

At the moment we do not know.

Cabinet minister Pat McFadden suggested a decision on lifting the ban could be made quickly if there was a need to hold talks with HTS.

Downing Street said on Monday that the Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations “under regular review”.

It is “long-standing policy that we do not engage with proscribed organisations” but it is an “evolving situation”, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman added.

The post Why is HTS banned in the UK and will this change now it has control in Syria? appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: HTS, News, Proscribed, Proscription, Syria, Syrian rebels, UK Government

Extremist Group Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan’s Flag Raised in U.K. University

December 4, 2024 Article

We have been documenting the rising influence of the violent extremist group, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), in the United Kingdom and in Europe. The work of Faith Matters on highlighting the pernicious and extremist basis of this group can be found here, here and here.

In a recent tweet made on the 2nd of December 2024, the flag of the extremist group was raised at a graduation ceremony in the London Metropolitan University.

The tweet can be found HERE.

What is clear is that the individual in the tweet hoisted the TLP flag in a London University, which should have alarmed officers at the institution. At the very least, safeguarding officers at the University should have identified the flag, which was waived at the graduation ceremony and hauled in the student and referred the matter to Prevent and the counter-extremism programme of the Government.

TLP is a violent Islamist extremist group that has been used as a motivating factor in the murder of people in the U.K and attempted murder of people in France, deemed to be heretics or against Islam. It has also targeted minority groups in Pakistan such as Christians and Ahmadis.

Faith Matters has been speaking on this issue since 2017, and has raised this matter repeatedly with senior civil servants in successive British Governments. Very little has been done on this and surely, now is the time to realise that such violent extremist groups could take hold in our institutions.

Now is the time to act for the safety of U.K nationals and in the defence of our democratic values. Failure to do so verges on the criminally negligent.

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Categories: counter-extremism, Islamist, London Metropolitan University, News, Prevent, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, TLP

Former soldier jailed for social media posts inciting racial hatred

November 18, 2024 Article

A former soldier who made Facebook posts referring to “civil war” in the aftermath of the Southport attacks has been jailed for two years.

Daffron Williams, 40, who served on tours of Afghanistan and Iraq, previously pleaded guilty to a charge of publishing material likely to stir up racial hatred relating to public posts made between July 19 and August 11.

Cardiff Crown Court heard the posts, made before and after three girls were fatally stabbed at a dance class on July 29, included Williams describing Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, as a “f***ing hero”.

In one post, the day after the incident in Southport, Williams wrote: “Civil war is here. The only thing that’s missing is bullets. That’s the next step.”

The court heard Williams, of Tonypandy, south Wales, has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) relating to his time in the army, during which he served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, told Williams that there had been “serious public disorder” following the Southport attacks.

She said: “It was on July 31 this year that South Wales Police received complaints about your Facebook account.

“Your Facebook profile was an open profile, which means any member of the public, anywhere in the country and the world, could view your profile and see your comments.”

The judge said Williams had posted a number of “racist comments” before the Southport incident and the disorder that followed.

Significant comments included Williams posting “Let’s just do something FFS” and “Civil war is here, the only thing that’s missing is bullets, that’s the next step”, she said.

Williams was arrested on August 11 and apologised when shown the Facebook posts, which he told police he regretted, the court heard.

Considering evidence about Williams’ PTSD, the judge said it was a mitigating factor for sentence, but added: “You knew exactly what you were doing, your posts were intentional.”

References submitted to the court on Williams’ behalf made clear he served his community as well as his country and had organised charity events, the judge told him.

Judge Lloyd-Clarke added: “I accept you have strong personal mitigation but given your encouragement to others to act – your references to civil war and to bullets – I am satisfied this offending is so serious that only custody is sufficient.”

Prosecuting, Alex Orndal said Williams had pleaded guilty to the charge against him when he appeared before Cardiff Magistrates’ Court in August and had been in custody since then.

In one Facebook comment, Williams said: “I am racist as f***, only to those who sap the life out of society and disrespect culture. Our future as British is so uncertain it is unreal.”

On July 24, he wrote: “Come on guys, it is time to stand up. Everything our ancestors, grandparents and parents fought for is ruined. Let’s do something.”

Four days later, Williams posted images from a Tommy Robinson rally in London, which he attended on July 27.

He wrote: “If that level of support continues, we will win our freedom back. That was too big to be called a racist protest.”

Williams added: “I have seen today they are trying to put Tommy Robinson in jail. God bless Tommy Robinson, f***ing hero.”

Mr Orndal told the court how Williams also posted two AI generated images following the Southport incident.

Representing Williams, John Allchurch said his client had been diagnosed with PTSD from serving as a soldier in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“The defendant experienced multiple traumatic events while in the army between 2004 and 2011,” Mr Allchurch said.

“He witnessed close comrades being brutally killed, as well as the defendant himself having to take action against enemy combatants.”

Mr Allchurch said Williams had experienced a recent deterioration in his mental health, linked to “combat training and traumatic experiences when a serving soldier and exposure to far right material on the internet”.

“The defendant is a man who has supported his country in the most difficult and trying of circumstances which has left him suffering with a mental disorder,” he added.

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Categories: Civil war, Daffron Williams, PTSD, Racial Hatred, Riots, Soldier, Southport attacks, Tommy Robinson

Blasphemy Continues to Fuel Extremism in Pakistan & Europe

October 26, 2024 Article

About six weeks ago, a 32 year old doctor in the Sindh province in Pakistan was shot by police. Shah Nawaz was killed by police who suggested that he was resisting arrest after being accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad. The blasphemy charge was that he had shared ‘blasphemous’ content on social media.

Nawaz’s family reject this charge and say that he was giving himself up and that he was killed by a member of the local police force on the basis that he had allegedly promoted ‘blasphemous’ content.

This killing came on the heels of another murder on September the 12th 2024, where a 52 year old man was killed in custody in Balochistan and who was being held on the basis of spurious ‘blasphemy’ charges.

Judiciary Involvement in Blasphemy

We must not forget that these killings and the charges of ‘blasphemy’ come on the back of a range of cases that have mainly involved the beleaguered Christian community in Pakistan, with the most high profile case being that of Asia Bibi.

Following on from Asia Bibi’s case, in May 2020, Aneeqa Ateeq a 26 year old Muslim woman was arrested in May 2020 and charged with circulating ‘blasphemous material’ on her Whatsapp messages. A court in Rawalpindi subsequently found Ateeq guilty and gave her a 20 year jail sentence and ordered her to be ‘hanged by her neck till she is dead”.

In 2021, a Pakistani Christian, Shagufta Kiran, was arrested for posting ‘blasphemous’ content on her Whatsapp messaging app in September 2020. The 40 year old mother of four was recently found guilty and has been sentenced to death.

The list of Christians and Muslims who have been accused of blasphemy continues to rise in Pakistan on the back of the introduction of ‘blasphemy’ as a political tool by the Islamist extremist group, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP). Such has been the spread of their narrative that the lives of minorities and those who even question faith, are at risk. The impacts of ‘blasphemy’ are therefore felt by Christian and Ahmadi communities who have borne the brunt of the actions of the state in denying them the most basic of rights.

Faith Matters will continue to highlight these human rights abuses and to highlight the lives of those affected by the ‘blasphemy police’ and extremists in Pakistan who seek to target minorities. Furthermore, the U.K. Government has not done enough in highlighting and challenging the human rights abuses around ‘blasphemy’ that are becoming pervasive in the country. The meekness of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on this matter, is unacceptable.

The post Blasphemy Continues to Fuel Extremism in Pakistan & Europe appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: Ahmadi, Aneeqa Ateeq, Asia Bibi, Balochistan, Blasphemy, Christians, Pakistan, Persecution, Shah Nawaz, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, TLP

Tommy Robinson to miss planned protest after being remanded into custody

October 25, 2024 Article

Political activist Tommy Robinson will miss his own planned march for thousands of people after being remanded into custody by police.

The 41-year-old, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is accused of being in contempt of court following the airing of a film at a protest in central London.

He attended Folkestone Police station on Friday where he was separately charged with failing to provide his mobile phone pin to police under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, Kent Police said.

Robinson is due to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday for a two-day hearing concerning allegations he breached a 2021 High Court order barring him from repeating libellous allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him.

Supporters of Robinson are due to hold a demonstration on Saturday, which is expected to be met with a counter-protest organised by Stand Up to Racism.

The Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police are due to be supported by officers from other forces across the country as the Met said there will be a “significant police presence” to ensure the two groups are kept apart.

The post Tommy Robinson to miss planned protest after being remanded into custody appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: News, protest, Schedule 7, Stephen Yaxley Lennon, Syrian Refugee, Terrorism Act, Tommy Robinson

Former British soldier jailed after sending weapons to Taliban

October 15, 2024 Article

A former British soldier who sent night vision and thermal imaging rifle scopes to support terrorist activity by the Taliban in Afghanistan has been jailed.

Muhammad Choudhary, 41, sent the items to Pakistan on a number of occasions in 2017 and 2018.

He bought 12 thermal imaging rifle scopes from legitimate specialist UK suppliers at a total cost of £31,500, the Old Bailey heard.

He was caught after a joint investigation by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and later admitted they were intended for use by the Taliban, which, at the time, launched various attacks against the then-Government and coalition forces in Afghanistan, the forces said.

On Tuesday, Choudhary, who had pleaded guilty to terrorism funding and fundraising offences, was sentenced to a total of seven years’ imprisonment, with an additional year to be served on an extended licence.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC, during sentencing, said: “From all the evidence, it is clear you knew the money you sent and the thermal imaging rifle scopes you acquired and sent, or tried to send, were intended to be used for the purposes of terrorism, namely by the Taliban in Afghanistan in its conflict with the Afghan government and coalition forces.

“You exported, or tried to export, rifle scopes knowing that you were prohibited from doing so and the contents of the packages containing the scopes were misdescribed no doubt in order to increase the likelihood of their export.

“As a former British soldier, whilst your service in the military was primarily to be engaged in medical duties, you would have been well aware of the capabilities of the scopes and how they were to be deployed.”

Thermal imaging systems help identify objects that emit infrared radiation such as humans while night vision imaging systems help users to see things in low light level conditions.

These systems, which are used by the military to detect targets and aim weapons, can be used as rifle sights by snipers to find and shoot targets both night and day.

The judge said Choudhary had made contact with the overseas organisations by December 2016 and had offered to help them with some money plus small or large weapons from that time.

In January, Choudhary pleaded guilty to a charge of fundraising for the purposes of terrorism, and two charges of making funding arrangements for the purposes of terrorism.

He first came to the attention of HMRC after a seizure of rifle scopes at Heathrow Airport in January 2018 when he was linked to a consignment, which was intended for an address in Pakistan.

Investigators found that Choudhary had bought the sniper sights from legitimate hunting suppliers. He later admitted to HMRC investigators to being in touch with individuals in Pakistan and Afghanistan and that he knew the scopes were for use by Taliban fighters.

Choudhary was then investigated by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and charged in September 2023.

After sentencing, Acting Commander Gareth Rees, of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, described it as “a unique case where Government colleagues identified potential terrorist-related activity and shared information with us”.

He said: “This case is a prime example of how terrorist activity can take many different forms, and shows that we will investigate anyone in the UK who supports terrorist activity, regardless of what it may be in support of or to where it may be linked.”

Mike Pass, assistant director of the fraud investigation service at HMRC, said: “The UK operates a strict licensing regime to uphold international sanctions and to ensure military equipment does not fall into the wrong hands.

“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure effective controls and enforcement on military goods, which contributes to the UK’s national security.”

The police said Choudhary was also previously charged with 23 offences under the Customs and Excise Management Act (1979). He pleaded not guilty to these offences at a hearing in February, and it was subsequently agreed for these offences to lay on file.

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Categories: British soldier, Muhammad Choudhary, News, Old Bailey, Pakistan, Rifle scopes, Taliban, Weapons

Islamic State fanatics called Rochdale based imam ‘Voldemort’

September 24, 2024 Article

Two Islamic State extremists who planned the murder of an imam referred to him as “Voldemort” who was engaging in “black magic”, a public inquiry heard.

Father-of-seven Jalal Uddin, 71, died in a “brutal and ferocious” attack with a hammer in a children’s play area in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on February 18 2016, because his religious practices were deemed sacrilegious by his killers.

An inquiry examining whether intelligence failures contributed to Mr Uddin’s death by failing to spot and stop his extremist killers, sat in public for the first time today.

The hearing, at Liverpool Crown Court, first sat at the start of the month to hear evidence in “closed” sessions, not open to press or public.

Inquiry chairman Judge Thomas Teague KC ruled some evidence must not be made public and heard only in private sessions to prevent harm to the detection and prevention of terrorism and public safety.

Mohammed Kadir, then 24, is believed to have struck the fatal blows with a hammer and had planned the killing with former Manchester United steward Mohammed Syeedy, then 21, who drove Kadir to the scene and helped carry out surveillance on their target.

Kadir fled the UK three days after the killing and is thought to have headed to Syria, while Syeedy was in September 2016 convicted of murdering Mr Uddin and sentenced to life with a minimum term of 24 years.

Syeedy’s trial was told both men were sympathisers of the terrorist group calling itself Islamic State and consumed by hatred of Mr Uddin for his practise of Ruqyah, a form of exorcism, which the terror organisation considered “black magic”.

A third man, Mohammed Syadul Hussain, was convicted in April 2017 of helping Kadir leave the country and jailed for five years.

Opening the hearing, chairman Judge Teague said it was “deeply unfortunate” more than eight years had passed since Mr Uddin’s death and for “compelling legal reasons” it is impossible to hear all the evidence in public.

Jason Beer KC, counsel to the inquiry, said Mr Uddin, who first came to the UK from Bangladesh in 2002, was a scholar of the Koran and a very well-regarded member of the community in Rochdale and formerly an imam at the local Jalalia Mosque.

But his practice of Ruqyah, involving using amulets, made him a target for IS supporters, who believed Islam should be practised as in the seventh century.

Mr Beer said: “IS is said to have regarded this practise as black magic. The men who murdered Mr Uddin were supporters and followers of IS.

“The murder was motivated by their hatred of Mr Uddin as a practitioner of Ruquya.”

Mr Beer said in some mobile phone exchanges between the two that Mr Uddin was referred to as Voldemort, a reference to Lord Voldemort, a fictional character in the Harry Potter books.

A previous hearing heard from October 2015, Kadir was assessed and continued to be assessed as a person of high risk and significant concern, and latterly as someone who posed a risk of acting on his Islamist extremist aspirations.

And after police raided Syeedy’s home following the murder, phones and laptops revealed IS propaganda and material.

These included photos of both men doing the one finger IS salute, photos of IS flags draped over road signs in Rochdale and a photo of Syeedy with an IS flag on a street with a mosque.

In August 2015, Mr Uddin’s property including a book he used during Ruqyah was stolen from Jalalia Mosque and destroyed.

Kadir and Syeedy also planned to report him to the Border Force, as Mr Uddin was in the UK illegally.

But the inquiry heard in December 23, 2015, Mr Uddin was photographed with Simon Danczuk, the then-MP for Rochdale, at the door of Jalalia Mosque.

A phone exchange between the two plotters and others, stated: “Oh dear. Voldemort is never going to be busted by the immigration service now.”

Two months later, the two men launched the attack, leaving Mr Uddin dead.

Around 2,000 mourners attended his funeral, paid for by the local community.

The inquiry was adjourned until Tuesday morning.

The post Islamic State fanatics called Rochdale based imam ‘Voldemort’ appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: Imam Jalal Uddin, Islamic State, Jalal Uddin, Jalalia Mosque, Mohammed Kadir, News, Rochdale, Ruquya, Ruqya, Voldemort

Police officer accused of supporting Hamas charged with terror offences

May 1, 2024 Article

A 26-year-old police officer is due to appear in court charged with terror offences over messages he shared on WhatsApp.

West Yorkshire Police constable Mohammed Adil is accused of two counts of publishing an image in support of banned organisation Hamas, watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct said.

The allegations are linked to messages that he shared on WhatsApp in October and November last year.

The IOPC said he was charged on Monday following an investigation by counter-terrorism police based in the North East.

Adil, who is based in Calderdale, is currently suspended.

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

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Categories: Hamas, Mohammad Adil, News, Police Officer, West Yorkshire Police, WhatsApp

German police seek tips after arson attack on Oldenburg synagogue

April 14, 2024 Article

Police have launched an online portal seeking tips about an arson attack on a synagogue in the northern German city of Oldenburg last Friday that prompted widespread outrage.

An incendiary device was thrown at the front door of the synagogue. Two janitors at a neighbouring cultural centre discovered the fire and extinguished it. No one was injured, but the perpetrators managed to escape and have not been identified.

Police investigating the crime announced the portal for tips on Thursday, and added that videos and photos could also be uploaded to the site.

A reward of €5,000 (about $5,400) has also been offered for tips that help solve the crime and identify the perpetrators.

The incident made headlines nationwide in Germany and prompted expressions of outrage and horror from leaders.

On Sunday, about 400 people took part in a rally in Oldenburg organized by a local alliance against anti-Semitism.

The post German police seek tips after arson attack on Oldenburg synagogue appeared first on Faith Matters.

Categories: anti-Semitism, arson, Attack, Germany, News, Oldenburg, Synagogue