Imams and Islamic scholars from Blackburn and Burnley have condemned the government’s decision to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir as a proscribed terrorist organisation.

In a joint statement, the 47 scholars ‘representing various diverse schools of thought’, said the decision represented ‘a severe assault on the fundamental freedoms of speech, association and belief and is a clear infringement of civil liberties’. 

Eleven male and female scholars from Blackburn are included on the list along with others from Burnley and Chorley.

Earlier this week , the Home Secretary James Cleverly said Hizb ut-Tahrir should be banned as a terrorist organisation and branded it “antisemitic” and warned it “promotes and encourages terrorism”.

Hizb ut-Tahrir is described as an international pan-Islamist and Islamic fundamentalist political organisation, with the stated aim of re-establishing a Islamic caliphate to unite the Muslim community (called ummah) and to implement sharia law globally.

The group is already banned in a number of countries worldwide, including majority Muslim nations such as Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and all Arab countries except Lebanon, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates, along with other nations such as Germany.

Home Secretary James Cleverly moved to proscribe the group by putting an order before Parliament, which would make joining or supporting the organisation illegal in the UK under terror laws, the Home Office said.

Labour has welcomed the plan, with shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper saying there had “long been serious concerns” about the group.

The statement from the imams and scholars said: “Hizb ut-Tahrir is a non-violent global political and religious movement that advocates its views through legitimate means.

"Under international law, the Palestinian people possess the right to resist Israeli occupation. 

“The press release by the Palestinian branch of Hizb ut-Tahrir reflects this legitimate position, which cannot be equated with encouraging terrorism.

"To label such expressions as threats to UK’s national security is not only misleading but a deliberate attempt to suppress support for the just cause of Palestinian resistance. 

“We also note that the Home Secretary is turning a blind eye to British citizens who are returning from Israel, despite their engagement in acts of terror and potentially killing innocent civilians, along with the security threats posed by such individuals. 

“Instead of addressing this, the Home Secretary’s decision to proscribe Hiz but-Tahrir appears to be steering the UK toward an alarming trajectory of authoritarianism."

In a statement, Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain denied it is antisemitic or encourages terrorism and said it will challenge the proposed proscription “using all available legal means”.

The proposal was debated in Parliament this week and the ban would come into force on Friday, making Hizb ut-Tahrir the 80th organisation to be proscribed in the UK.

It would mean “belonging to, inviting support for and displaying articles in a public place in a way that arouses suspicion of membership or support for the group” will be a criminal offence.