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| UK will not ban Muslim Brotherhood, David Cameron says | UK will not ban Muslim Brotherhood, David Cameron says |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron has branded members of the Muslim Brotherhood as “possible extremists” but stopped short of immediately banning the group following a long-delayed official inquiry into its activities in Britain. | David Cameron has branded members of the Muslim Brotherhood as “possible extremists” but stopped short of immediately banning the group following a long-delayed official inquiry into its activities in Britain. |
| The prime minister said the review found the Islamist organisation to have had significant influence in groups claiming to speak for British Muslims. And he added the Brotherhood characterised the UK as fundamentally hostile to Muslim faith and identity and had expressed support for terrorist attacks by Hamas. | |
| “The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism,” Cameron said in a written ministerial statement to MPs. “Parts of the Muslim Brotherhood have a highly ambiguous relationship with violent extremism.” | “The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism,” Cameron said in a written ministerial statement to MPs. “Parts of the Muslim Brotherhood have a highly ambiguous relationship with violent extremism.” |
| After the review – undertaken by the former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sir John Jenkins – delivered stronger than expected findings, the government will consider taking action against the Muslim Brotherhood and could end up banning it in Britain. | |
| The review was completed last summer amid calls from allies such as Saudi Arabia for the UK to ban the group, and ministers have been accused of sitting on the report to avoid upsetting key partners in the Middle East. | The review was completed last summer amid calls from allies such as Saudi Arabia for the UK to ban the group, and ministers have been accused of sitting on the report to avoid upsetting key partners in the Middle East. |
| The group played a leading role in Egypt’s 2011 revolution. It is considered a terrorist organisation by several countries but has also taken part in democratic elections on a peaceful platform. | |
| Cameron’s statement said individuals closely associated with the group in the UK have supported suicide bombings and other attacks in Israel by Hamas – whose military wing has been proscribed in the UK since 2001 as a terrorist organisation, and which describes itself as the Palestinian chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood. | |
| The prime minister said the government will ensure “central and local government does not inadvertently provide legitimacy or a platform for extremists”. He added: “We will challenge extremists’ poisonous narratives and promote positive alternatives that show vulnerable people that there are better ways to get on in life.” | The prime minister said the government will ensure “central and local government does not inadvertently provide legitimacy or a platform for extremists”. He added: “We will challenge extremists’ poisonous narratives and promote positive alternatives that show vulnerable people that there are better ways to get on in life.” |
| That is to include keeping a close watch on the views promoted by Muslim Brotherhood associates in Britain in Arabic and English, as well as their activities. | That is to include keeping a close watch on the views promoted by Muslim Brotherhood associates in Britain in Arabic and English, as well as their activities. |
| He said Britain would continue to refuse visas to members and associates of the Muslim Brotherhood who are on record as having made extremist comments. | He said Britain would continue to refuse visas to members and associates of the Muslim Brotherhood who are on record as having made extremist comments. |
| Government action will focus on fundraising in Britain for the Muslim Brotherhood and ensure that money raised by charities with links to the organisation is not used to finance it. | Government action will focus on fundraising in Britain for the Muslim Brotherhood and ensure that money raised by charities with links to the organisation is not used to finance it. |
| Lawyers for the Muslim Brotherhood have said that any “undue” criticism of the group will be challenged in the courts. | Lawyers for the Muslim Brotherhood have said that any “undue” criticism of the group will be challenged in the courts. |
| The Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, said the Jenkins review had been asked for by the Saudi government and “shines a light into the shady corners of our relationship with the Kingdom. We should decide these things based on real and credible intelligence and not pressure from Riyadh,” he said. “We need to be less of a slavish ally and more critical of their role both within the region and on human rights. We are now calling on the government to start a formal inquiry into the external funding for extremist perversions of Islam,” the Liberal Democrat leader added. | The Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, said the Jenkins review had been asked for by the Saudi government and “shines a light into the shady corners of our relationship with the Kingdom. We should decide these things based on real and credible intelligence and not pressure from Riyadh,” he said. “We need to be less of a slavish ally and more critical of their role both within the region and on human rights. We are now calling on the government to start a formal inquiry into the external funding for extremist perversions of Islam,” the Liberal Democrat leader added. |