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UK won't ban Muslim Brotherhood but finds link to extremism

Published:Thursday | December 17, 2015 | 9:07 AM
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Evangelical preacher James McConnell leaves Belfast Magistrate's court, Northern Ireland, on Wednesday. Judgement was reserved against McConnell who branded Islam satanic has been charged with spreading a "grossly offensive" message. In a May 2014 sermon, James McConnell told worshippers at the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle in Belfast: "Islam is heathen. Islam is satanic."
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British Prime Minister David Cameron.
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LONDON, AP:

Some members of the Muslim Brotherhood have supported violence and involvement with the group can be an indicator of extremism, but it should not be banned in Britain, the government said yesterday.

Last year, Prime Minister David Cameron ordered Britain's intelligence agencies to investigate the philosophy and activities of the Islamist group, amid reports the Brotherhood was using London as a base to plan militant activities after a crackdown in Egypt.

The Brotherhood said it is a peaceful charitable and political organisation, but opponents accuse it of orchestrating attacks on Egyptian police and military targets. It is considered a terrorist organisation by British ally Saudi Arabia and by Egypt, where Brotherhood leader Mohammed Morsi was ousted as president in 2013.

The British review concluded that the Brotherhood's form of political Islam is primarily "a political project", but that a minority of its supporters in Egypt "have engaged alongside other Islamists in violent acts."

"Individuals closely associated with the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK have supported suicide bombing and other attacks in Israel by Hamas," the review said.

- AP