The British government has banned the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir

The British government has designated Hizb ut-Tahrir group, which lauded Hamas for its attack on Israel, as a terrorist organization, and banned it.

Home Secretary James Cleverley who submitted the government's decision to the House of Commons said that Hizb ut-Tahrir al Islami (Islamic Liberation Party), founded in 1953 and based in Lebanon, has a presence in 32 countries, including the UK, and its long-term goal is to create a caliphate.

The law designating the organization as a terrorist one makes it a criminal offense to join Hizb ut-Tahrir, encourage others to support the group, or publicly demonstrate items that raise suspicions that one is a member of the group or supports it. The UK Home Office stresses that those who commit certain offenses linked to proscribed groups could face up to 14 years' imprisonment under UK counter-terrorism legislation.