I have witnessed some events recently, which made me think more closely about proscribed groups in the UK, also known as proscribed terrorist groups or proscribed terrorist organisations.
To be proscribed is to be:
(of a government or other authority) to not allow something:
- Torture and summary execution of political prisoners are proscribed by international law.
- The Athletics Federation has banned the runner from future races for using proscribed drugs.
I think that the terminology is very clear, this is a complete ban - do not pass go, do not collect $200. You have to do something pretty bad to get yourself on this list…
The Home Secretary can proscribe a group under the Terrorism Act 2000, for one of the following:
- commits or participates in acts of terrorism
- prepares for terrorism
- promotes or encourages terrorism (including the unlawful glorification of terrorism)
- is otherwise concerned in terrorism
Although the application will be somewhat difficult, it seems quite clear what the general objective is here - to prevent terrorism within the UK.
Bashar al-Assad, was, until recently, the dictator of Syria, was overthrown by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, the so-called ‘rebel group’ as referred to be the BBC and other mainstream media. But who are they?
From the UK government:
Al Qa’ida (AQ) - Proscribed March 2001
Inspired and led by Usama Bin Laden, its aims are the expulsion of Western forces from Saudi Arabia, the destruction of Israel and the end of Western influence in the Muslim world.
The government laid Orders, in July 2013 December 2016 and May 2017, which provided that the “al-Nusrah Front (ANF)”, “Jabhat al-Nusrah li-ahl al Sham”, “Jabhat Fatah al-Sham” and “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” should be treated as alternative names for the organisation which is already proscribed under the name Al Qa’ida.
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham are literally Al Qa’ida, you know, the twin tower people, led by Usama Bin Laden. These people are single-handedly responsible for a large suppression of a great number of your freedoms in the name of security, and make the act simple activities such as travelling expensive and cumbersome. Given what they have been responsible for and the fact they continue to be a threat, they rightfully remain on the proscribed groups list.
Imagine my surprise when I read the news, and a mass rally in support of Al Qaida is taking place in Syria. The BBC write this as (emphasis mine):
Rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who has now started using his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, had urged Syrians “to go to the streets to express their joy” to mark “the blessed revolution”.
It is they reported that:
Jubilant Syrians flocked to London’s Trafalgar Square yesterday to celebrate the ousting of former President Bashar Al-Assad as they vowed to return home.
Hundreds waved Syrian opposition flags and lit green flares in emotional scenes of ecstasy as people hugged one another after the fall of the Assad family’s brutal 54 year dynasty rule in the country.
Chants of ‘Mabrouk’ (Congratulations) were heard after rebel soldiers stormed Syria’s capital Damascus in a lightning offensive.
Hundreds of Muslims flocked to Trafalgar Square in London and other UK landmarks, chanting support for Al Qa’ida, and not a single person even blinked.
Every Syrian refugee situated in the UK now need to be returned.
Only weeks after the Al Qa’ida victory in Syria, does the BBC start to get concerned:
There is concern growing in Syria that the new Islamist-led authorities have already decided on changes to the school curriculum, without the input of the rest of society.
The Facebook page of the transitional government’s education ministry has posted the new curriculum for all age groups, which will take on a more Islamic slant, as well as dropping any reference to the Assad era across all subjects.
The phrase “Defending the nation” has been replaced by “Defending Allah”, among other changes.
Other proposed changes include Evolution and the Big Bang theory being dropped from science teaching.
References to the gods worshipped in Syria before Islam, as well as images of their statues, are also being dropped.
The significance of the great Syrian heroine Queen Zenobia, who once ruled Palmyra in the Roman era, seems to have been downplayed.
Oh no, who could have guessed that the Islamic extremist group would start to put extreme Islamic values in place immediately? It’s as if Al Qa’ida have taken over or something!
The worst part for me is, that the West cannot help but get involved. I’m almost certain that the UK government secretly sent my fucking taxes to support a proscribed group because BP thought they could get some oil. We know that BP continued to extract oil from Syria despite Western sanctions, and it’s likely that Assad had to go because he said the most dangerous word of all - no.
I think that all involvement in Syria, and support of Al Qa’ida needs to be investigated with the Terrorism Act 2000 in mind.
According to one article, they have taken over several large territories, some of which includes petroleum, which is a large part of their income. As said previously, BP has been dealing in Syria for a long time.
My questions are simple:
The British establishment and the elites are not above the law.