LONDON: The Home Secretary Sajid Javid has banned Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, after branding it a threat to the public’s safety and security.
In a statement Sajid Javid said: “Hezbollah is continuing in its attempts to destabilize 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 Lebanon-based group’s military wing is already outlawed, but the proscription will now be extended to its political arm, said British government.
If approved by Parliament, the step will bring Britain in line with countries including the US in regarding the whole of Hezbollah as a terrorist group.
From Friday, membership will be a criminal offence carrying a maximum sentence of up to 10 years.
