London, Jan 15 (AP) The UK government said on Monday that the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir is antisemitic and should be banned as a terrorist organisation.

Parliament will debate this week a proposal to make joining the group illegal in the UK under terrorism laws, the Home Office said. If approved, the ban will take effect on Friday.

Also Read | Singapore Road Accident: Indian Teen Killed, Three Injured As Bus Catches Fire After Colliding With Motorcycle on North-South Highway.

The group, which is based in Lebanon but which operates in more than 30 countries including the US and Canada, has organised rallies in London alongside pro-Palestinian marches in recent weeks, following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

Police said that one member was seen chanting "jihad", or holy war, in a video from an October march, though officers reviewing the evidence decided at the time that no offenses were committed.

Also Read | Nine-Year-Old Indian-American Preesha Chakraborty Named in ‘World’s Brightest’ Students List By Johns Hopkins Centre.

“Hizb ut-Tahrir is an antisemitic organization that actively promotes and encourages terrorism, including praising and celebrating the appalling October 7 attacks," Home Secretary James Cleverly said.

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said the group's celebration of Hamas' attacks on Israel was “disgraceful”.

The group also has a “history of praising and celebrating attacks against Israel and attacks against Jews more widely", the Home Office added.

If approved, the ban would mean that belonging to or inviting support for the group is a criminal offense, punishable by to 14 years in prison.

Hizb ut-Tahrir has been banned in several countries, including Germany, Egypt and Pakistan. Austria banned symbols of the group in 2021. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)