Muslim Brotherhood membership 'possible indicator of extremism' says Britain
Muslim Brotherhood membership 'possible indicator of extremism' says Britain
Some members of the Muslim Brotherhood have supported violence and membership can be an indicator of extremism but it should not be banned in Britain, the government said Thursday.
2 min read
David Cameron criticised the Muslim Brotherhood after the publishing of the report [Anadolu]
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood will not be banned in the UK after the release of a long-delayed government review on Thursday.
However, membership or association with the organisation has been labelled as a 'possible indicator of extremism'.
It comes after a statement by the British Prime Minister David Cameron following the release of the controversial review, which was threatened with being shelved at one point and subject to numerous delays.
The review was commissioned in April by Cameron and led by former UK ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sir John Jenkin.
It came amid calls from UK allies including Saudi Arabia for a domestic ban on the group.
"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.
The Conservative Party leader added that the group's activities would be kept under review.
Muslim Brotherhood associates have sometimes characterised the UK as fundamentally hostile to Muslims, Cameron reasoned.
He also attacked the movement's support for Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
"Aspects of the Muslim Brotherhood's ideology and activities therefore run counter to British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, equality and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs," he said.
The lack of an outright ban might not be enough for some of the UK's powerful regional allies notably Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
All the government's have labelled the Muslim Brotherhood as a "terrorist organisation" and have stringent punishments of the group.
The Muslim Brotherhood itself has rejected the conclusions of the government report labelling it as "defective" and attacked its stance.
"If Britain sees that peaceful protests and activities that reject the [2013] military coup, the killing of civilians and the detentions and disappearances as extremist then certainly Britain has a defect it needs to remedy," the Muslim Brotherhood said in a statement.
They added that the movement is committed to peaceful activism and respect for UK law.
The Muslim Brotherhood played a key role in Egypt's 2011 revolution and a member of the group - Mohammad Morsi - became the country's first democratically elected president.
Morsi was overthrown in a military in 2013 and is standing trial for a number of charges.
However, membership or association with the organisation has been labelled as a 'possible indicator of extremism'.
It comes after a statement by the British Prime Minister David Cameron following the release of the controversial review, which was threatened with being shelved at one point and subject to numerous delays.
The review was commissioned in April by Cameron and led by former UK ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sir John Jenkin.
It came amid calls from UK allies including Saudi Arabia for a domestic ban on the group.
"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.
The Conservative Party leader added that the group's activities would be kept under review.
Muslim Brotherhood associates have sometimes characterised the UK as fundamentally hostile to Muslims, Cameron reasoned.
He also attacked the movement's support for Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
"Aspects of the Muslim Brotherhood's ideology and activities therefore run counter to British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, equality and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs," he said.
The lack of an outright ban might not be enough for some of the UK's powerful regional allies notably Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
All the government's have labelled the Muslim Brotherhood as a "terrorist organisation" and have stringent punishments of the group.
The Muslim Brotherhood itself has rejected the conclusions of the government report labelling it as "defective" and attacked its stance.
"If Britain sees that peaceful protests and activities that reject the [2013] military coup, the killing of civilians and the detentions and disappearances as extremist then certainly Britain has a defect it needs to remedy," the Muslim Brotherhood said in a statement.
They added that the movement is committed to peaceful activism and respect for UK law.
The Muslim Brotherhood played a key role in Egypt's 2011 revolution and a member of the group - Mohammad Morsi - became the country's first democratically elected president.
Morsi was overthrown in a military in 2013 and is standing trial for a number of charges.
Follow the Middle East's top stories in English at The New Arab on Google News
