The Guardian has learned that a radical Muslim group, Hizb ut-Tahrir, which the prime minister intends to ban, is not involved in violence or terrorism, according to a leaked unpublished government report prepared for Tony Blair.

Two of Labour’s four Muslim MPs yesterday told the Guardian that they oppose banning Hizb ut-Tahrir, as announced on Friday by the prime minister as part of a package of measures to tackle extremism after the bombing attacks on London last month.

Shahid Malik, MP for Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, told the Guardian that he thought banning the group could be a mistake. Mr Malik is one of four Labour Muslim MPs who have met Mr Blair to discuss how to crack down on extremism. He said: “By banning them their ideas are still there, but unanswered. British Muslims must intellectually confront these ideas.”

Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting, has been targeted by the group’s activists. Mr Khan, a civil rights lawyer, said: “I dislike immensely Hizb ut-Tahrir and despise some of their activists, but nothing I’ve seen or experienced amounts to them inciting violence. There’s no justification for a ban, and people are saying it’s an example of double standards as there is no plan to ban the British National party.”

Last year a paper, called Young Muslims and Extremism, was prepared for Mr Blair on the orders of the home and foreign secretaries. It says: “Most of the structured organisations, eg Hizb ut-Tahrir, will not directly advocate violence. Indeed membership or sympathy with such an organisation does not in any way presuppose a move towards terrorism.”

Guardian, 8 August 2005

The leaked Young Muslims and Extremism paper is available here.

MAB calls for the formation of a broad coalition made up of elements throughout society, that will work to defend and uphold our civil liberties and freedoms. MAB has begun making contacts with a number of groups and organisations in this regard and will be making further contacts over the coming days and weeks, ensuring that this coalition reflects the diverse and colourful face of Britain and its people.

MAB will be co-organising and calling for a national demonstration on the 24th of September, in which the main banners will be in support of our civil liberties, support of the victims of the London bombings, the condemnation of terrorism and the call to show solidarity with the Muslim community in Britain who have been the brunt of a vicious attack from a variety of sectors since the bombings. The demonstration will also be calling for the withdrawal of our soldiers from Iraq as one solution to the problem persisting there. This demonstration will be used to show national unity and accord on the main and vital issues facing our country, and the importance of having the people, rather than laws and security measures, at the heart of any solution to the problems we face.

Muslim Association of Britain news article, 8 August 2005