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Islam4UK banned under terror laws Islam4UK banned under terror laws
(30 minutes later)
A radical Islamist group that planned a march through Wootton Bassett will be banned under counter-terrorism laws, Home Secretary Alan Johnson has said.A radical Islamist group that planned a march through Wootton Bassett will be banned under counter-terrorism laws, Home Secretary Alan Johnson has said.
Islam4UK had planned the protest at the Wiltshire town to honour Muslims killed in the Afghanistan conflict.Islam4UK had planned the protest at the Wiltshire town to honour Muslims killed in the Afghanistan conflict.
The government had been considering outlawing the group - Islam4UK is also known as al-Muhajiroun.The government had been considering outlawing the group - Islam4UK is also known as al-Muhajiroun.
A spokesman for al-Muhajiroun told the BBC the group is "nothing more than a think tank and a pressure group". A spokesman for Islam4UK told the BBC they are an "ideological and political organisation", and not a violent one.
Mr Johnson said: "I have today laid an order which will proscribe al-Muhajiroun, Islam4UK, and a number of the other names the organisation goes by.Mr Johnson said: "I have today laid an order which will proscribe al-Muhajiroun, Islam4UK, and a number of the other names the organisation goes by.
I think it is a grave mistake because it will force them underground Omar Bakri Muhammadal-Muhajiroun Profile: Islam4UK
"It is already proscribed under two other names - al-Ghurabaa and The Saved Sect."It is already proscribed under two other names - al-Ghurabaa and The Saved Sect.
"Proscription is a tough but necessary power to tackle terrorism and is not a course we take lightly."Proscription is a tough but necessary power to tackle terrorism and is not a course we take lightly.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
"We are clear that an organisation should not be able to circumvent proscription by simply changing its name.""We are clear that an organisation should not be able to circumvent proscription by simply changing its name."
Under the Terrorism Act 2000, a group can be banned if it "commits or participates in acts of terrorism, prepares for, promotes or encourages terrorism or is otherwise concerned in terrorism".Under the Terrorism Act 2000, a group can be banned if it "commits or participates in acts of terrorism, prepares for, promotes or encourages terrorism or is otherwise concerned in terrorism".
Groups can also be outlawed if they "unlawfully glorify the commission or preparation of acts of terrorism".Groups can also be outlawed if they "unlawfully glorify the commission or preparation of acts of terrorism".
Speaking from Lebanon, Omar Bakri Muhammad, founder of al-Muhajiroun, told the BBC: "It will increase the popularity of al-Muhajiroun and increase the membership, and I think it is a grave mistake because it will force them underground and he is playing with fire. Islam4UK spokesman Anjem Choudary told BBC Radio 4: "What the people will see is if you don't agree with the government and you want to expose their foreign policy, then freedom quickly dissipates and turns into dictatorship."
"It is nothing more than a think tank and a pressure group of students, they are never involved in any violence." He denied Islam4UK members were involved in violence: "I challenge anyone to authentically prove that any of our members have been involved in any violent activities or promoting violent activities or asking anyone to carry out any sort of military operations.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme "We are always at pains to stress that we are an ideological and political organisation.
On Sunday Islam4UK cancelled the march and issued a statement from spokesman Anjem Choudary, saying it had "successfully highlighted the plight of Muslims in Afghanistan". 'Whatever price necessary'
"We at Islam4UK have decided, after consultation with others including our Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, that no more could be achieved even if a procession were to take place in Wootton Bassett," he said. "We won't be using those names and those platforms which have been proscribed, but I can't stop being a Muslim, I can't stop propagating Islam, I can't stop praying, I can't stop calling for the Sharia.
"That's something I must do, and ultimately I will pay whatever price I need to for my belief."
Speaking from Lebanon, Omar Bakri Muhammad, founder of al-Muhajiroun, told the BBC the decision to ban the group would "increase the popularity of al-Muhajiroun" and "force them underground".
On Sunday Islam4UK cancelled the march, saying it had "successfully highlighted the plight of Muslims in Afghanistan".
The group denied members had planned to carry 500 empty coffins through the town.The group denied members had planned to carry 500 empty coffins through the town.
The banning order will come into effect on Thursday and make it a criminal offence to be a member, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.The banning order will come into effect on Thursday and make it a criminal offence to be a member, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said plans for the march were "disgusting".Earlier this week, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said plans for the march were "disgusting".