Islamic Group Banned

An extremist Islamic group that tried to organise a mass protest at the homecoming of British troops in Wootton Bassett, has been banned under the government’s anti-terror legislation.

Islam4uk said it wanted to raise awareness to the untold ‘atrocities’ being perpetrated in the name of British government against Muslims in Afghanistan.

However the march was called off at the last minute as the group fronted by Anjem Chowdary could not raise enough support.

The banning order will come into effect from January 13 and membership of Islam4uk will carry a ten year prison sentence.

Islam4uk issued a statement in response, “(The) ban is another nail in the coffin of capitalism and another sign of the revival of Islam and Muslims.

"Islam4UK has been contacted by authorities to shut down its operations, we stress this name will no longer be used by us.”

Under the Terrorism Act 2000, the government can outlaw any group if it is found to be ‘unlawfully glorifying terrorism.’

Formerly al-Muhajiroun, the group was founded by radical cleric Omar Bakri Muhammad who was deported from the UK to Jordan in 2005.

The group – also known as Al Ghurabaa and The Saved Sect – courted further controversy when it referred to 9/11 bombers as ‘The Magnificent 19’.

Asif Hanif attended al-Muhajiroun meetings before going on to become the suicide bomber who blow up a cafe in Tel Aviv, Israel on April 29, 2003.

Home Secretary Alan 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. 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, we are clear that an organisation should not be able to circumvent proscription by simply changing its name.”