The UK government is to ban two extreme Islamist groups accused of carrying out terrorist attacks in south Asia, ministers announced Tuesday. Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh and Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi would be added to the list of organisations proscribed under the Terrorism Act.The minister for counter-terrorism and security, Tony McNulty, published a draft order in parliament today. Once passed, it will be an offence to belong to or encourage support for either group. "As events over the last few days have shown only too clearly, the threat we face from terrorism remains real and serious," McNulty said in a statement. "Proscription powers are a key tool in the fight against terrorism, creating a hostile environment in which terrorists find it increasingly difficult to operate, whether in this country or abroad. "Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh is already banned in that country, where it seeks to impose strict Islamic law."
Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi is active in tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The group "regularly attacks coalition and Afghan government forces in Afghanistan and provides direct support to al-Qaida and the Taliban", according to the draft order. The group was blamed for a suicide bombing that killed 44 Pakistani military cadets in November 2006.
Thus far, 44 primarily Islamist organisations have been banned in the UK, along with 14 groups in Northern Ireland outlawed under earlier legislation. The additions were unconnected with the attempted car bombings in London and Glasgow, a Home Office statement said.