UK bans Muslim group for anti-war march plans

Press TV
Jan. 13, 2010

The British government has outlawed a Muslim group after it planned an antiwar rally in the southwestern town of Wootton Bassett.

Islam4UK, which, according to British Home Secretary Alan Johnson, will be banned as of Thursday, had planned the protest at the Wiltshire town to honor the innocent civilian victims of the Afghanistan conflict.

The town's selection was symbolic, as it is famous for its somber ceremonies honoring British soldiers fallen in Afghanistan.

Based on the new 'law', membership in the group is punishable by up to 10 years in jail under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Following the announcement on Tuesday, the group's spokesman in the UK, Anjem Choudary, accused Downing Street of oppressing freedom whenever its interests are endangered.

"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," Choudary told BBC's Radio 4.

He also denied Islam4UK members were involved in violence, emphasizing that the group was "an ideological and political organization."

"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," Choudary boasted.

The group views the British government's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan as violent and extremist.

The arbitrary banning of the Muslim group comes despite the long-standing British claim of valuing freedom of speech and assembly as basic civil rights. It is evident, according to observers, that groups and individuals critical of UK's war and interventionist policies are exempt from such rights.