UK Hizbollah ban welcomed

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has welcomed the Government of the United Kingdom’s designation of Hizbollah in all its forms as a proscribed terrorist organisation.   The ministry affirmed that the decision was an important step in the effort to combat terrorism on the regional and the international levels, as Hizbollah imposes a real threat to international peace and security.  The ministry expressed its appreciation for the tremendous efforts and the strategic decisions of the United Kingdom, adding that such decisions reflect the keenness of the United Kingdom to combat terrorism in all its forms and to confront terrorist groups and extreme ideologies.

The ministry also stressed the need for the international community to follow such steps, as well as to enhance mutual co-operation and joint co-ordination to eradicate violence, extremism and terrorism.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the Kingdom’s firm stance in rejecting terrorism in all its forms and calls for concerted efforts to combat it.  Britain will ban Hizbollah under anti-terror laws, the home secretary has announced. The Lebanon-based group’s military wing is already outlawed, but the ban will be extended to its political arm.

Sajid Javid said: “Hizbollah is continuing in its attempts to destabilise the fragile situation in the Middle East - and we are no longer able to distinguish between their already banned military wing and the political party. “Because of this, I have taken the decision to proscribe the group in its entirety.” The move, to be ratified on Friday, brings Britain in line with allies including the US, where President Donald Trump has made isolating Iran - Hizbollah’s sponsor - a central part of his Middle East policy.

It means anyone convicted of being a member of, or drumming up support for the group could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail. Even wearing or carrying something which could provoke a “reasonable suspicion” of being a member would be an offence and lead to a six-month sentence. Up to this point, the UK had resisted banning the group in its entirety because it provides social and political functions in Lebanon and has formed part of the country’s government. Its external security organisation was banned in 2001 and its military wing was proscribed seven years later.