London : Membership of the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as “a possible indicator of extremism”, but the group will not be banned altogether in Britain, according to a statement by British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday.
In a written statement to parliament, Cameron said: “Parts of the Muslim Brotherhood have a highly ambiguous relationship with violent extremism,” Xinhua reported.
He said Britain would keep the Islamist organisation’s views and activities “under review”, but did not go as far as banning the movement completely in his country.
Cameron’s remarks came after the British government on Thursday published a long-awaited policy review on the Muslim Brotherhood and its links to extremism.
The review said: “The Muslim Brotherhood has not been linked to terrorist-related activity in and against the UK.” However, the review asserted: “People associated with the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK have applauded suicide bombing by Hamas, in some cases against civilians.”
The report stated that “aspects of Muslim Brotherhood ideology and tactics, in this country and overseas, are contrary to our values and have been contrary to our national interests and our national security”.
“The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism,” Cameron said in his statement.
The prime minister noted that Britain “will keep under review the views that are promoted and activities that are undertaken by Muslim Brotherhood associates in the UK”, and “refuse visas to members and associates of the Muslim Brotherhood who are on record as having made extremist comments”.
But he did not ban the Muslim Brotherhood altogether as hoped by countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, which have listed the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation.