The United Kingdom said it will add the political wing of Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah to its list of banned “terrorist” organisations, despite the role it plays in the government and parliament.
The move, which will come into effect on Friday, subject to approval by the British parliament, criminalises anyone who is either a member of or supports the group, headed by Hassan Nasrallah.
Those who are associated with Hezbollah will face up to 10 years in prison.
“Hezbollah 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,” Home Secretary Sajid Javid said.
“Because of this, I have taken the decision to proscribe the group in its entirety.”
Israel praises British ban
Hezbollah’s military wing was banned in the UK in 2008, but the latest announcement would also place its political members – many of whom are a part of the Lebanese parliament – in the same category.
Hezbollah does not acknowledge the existence of separate wings.
Explaining its decision, the British government said the organisation continued to amass weapons in contravention of UN Security Council resolutions, while its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had prolonged “the conflict and the regime’s brutal and violent repression of the Syrian people”.
Reacting to the announcement, Israel’s Security Minister Gilad Erdan praised the British move and urged the European Union to follow suit.
“All who truly wish to combat terror must reject the fake distinction between ‘military’ & ‘political’ wings,” Erdan said in a tweet.
Hezbollah is already considered a “terrorist” organisation by the United States, Canada and Israel, as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council and Arab League.
Last month, Lebanese politicians finally agreed to a new government, which include three Hezbollah ministers, ending an impasse that lasted eight months since the country held general elections in May 2018.
On Monday, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the UK staunchly supports “a stable and prosperous Lebanon” but “cannot however be complacent when it comes to terrorism.”
“This does not change our ongoing commitment to Lebanon, with whom we have a broad and strong relationship,” he added.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
