United Kingdom

Citizenship

Shamima Begum and other women who joined ISIS should be returned to UK, adviser says Jonathan Hall KC suggests Britain is out of step with western allies in blocking return of women who joined terrorist groups in Syria

February 27, 2023   

(National-UAE) Shamima Begum and other women who joined ISIS should be allowed to return to Britain to face justice, according to the UK’s independent reviewer of anti-terror legislation. Jonathan Hall KC said British women or those who are former citizens should be […]

Government & Politics

Humza Yousaf’s absence from key vote on gay marriage being ‘dragged up’ for political reasons, SNP leadership candidate says Regarding religious concerns about homosexuality, Humza Yousaf tells Sky News that while he 'can't change what's in scripture,' he will not allow 'personal faith to be the basis of legislation.'

February 26, 2023   

(Sky News) One of three candidates vying to take over from Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the SNP says his absence from a key vote on gay marriage is being “dragged up” for political reasons. Humza Yousaf told Sky News that his […]

Citizenship

Shamima Begum: Labour’s Starmer says court was right to reject citizenship appeal Opposition leader says judgment was 'the right decision,' having previously described removal of Begum's citizenship in 2019 as 'the wrong decision'

February 23, 2023   

(Middle East Eye) Labour leader Keir Starmer on Thursday said he supported a court ruling dismissing an appeal by Shamima Begum challenging the UK government over the removal of her British citizenship. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) on Wednesday rejected Begum’s […]

Government & Politics

UK summons Iranian diplomat after threats force TV channel to close in London Britain's foreign secretary also announced further sanctions on Iranian officials linked to human rights abuses

February 20, 2023   

(National-UAE) Britain summoned Iran’s most senior diplomat on Monday to make clear that threats to journalists on UK soil “will never go unchallenged” after a Persian-language TV channel was forced to close its London newsroom. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he was […]

Law Enforcement

UK terrorist police investigations ‘quadruple’ with Iran behind 15 plots 'Close calls' saw would-be attackers picking targets and gathering weapons when officers intervened

February 16, 2023   

(National-UAE) The number of investigations by UK counter-terrorism police into state threats has quadrupled in the past two years, with several “close calls,” a senior officer has said. Matt Jukes, head of counter-terrorism policing, described the workload as “unprecedented” and said it […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Islamic charity head: Jews and Muslims should be allies over Islamophobia day Asif Aziz is calling for the UK government to enshrine the UN's International Day to Combat Islamophobia on 15 March in statute

February 14, 2023   

(Jewish News) The founder of a grant-making foundation sponsoring Muslim students through university has appealed to the Jewish community to help persuade the government to recognise the UN’s annual Day to Combat Islamophobia on 15 March. Asif Aziz, a businessman who established […]

Crime

Six men jailed for people-smuggling after joint operation by British and French police The French authorities were alerted about an illicit shipment which saw the launch of surveillance leading to 'one of many significant operational results over the last two to three years' and disruption to a number of organised gangs.

February 8, 2023   

(Sky News) Six men have been convicted of people-smuggling and sent to prison following a joint operation between British and French police. The men were given sentences ranging from two to five years after a trial in the French city of Douai. […]

Government & Politics

Prevent review: Treat Hamas and Islamic State supporters the same, says Shawcross Counter-extremism reviewer says supporters of proscribed Palestinian movement should face full force of counter-terrorism powers

February 8, 2023   

(Middle East Eye) Supporters of Hamas should be treated the same as supporters of the Islamic State group and subjected to the full force of the law, a contentious review of the UK government’s Prevent counter-extremism strategy has recommended. William Shawcross’s review, […]

Government & Politics

Government’s anti-terror programme failing to ‘understand and tackle antisemitism’ William Shawcross's long-[awaited] report into the Prevent programme includes references to cases that the author says show 'the prevalence of extreme antisemitism'

February 8, 2023   

(Jewish News) The government’s anti-terror programme is not doing enough to “understand and tackle antisemitism,” a new report has concluded. The findings of former Charity Commission chairman William Shawcross’s long-awaited report into the Prevent programme included claims by the author he was […]

Government & Politics

UK’s Prevent terror strategy review to address classifying extremists as victims Shawcross report expected to warn that treating potentially dangerous people as vulnerable presents serious security issues

February 7, 2023   

(National-UAE) The classification of extremists as vulnerable people is a “mischaracterisation,” the author of a review of the UK’s Prevent strategy is expected to say. William Shawcross, author of the review, is understood to have taken issue with how the government’s counter-terrorism […]

Government & Politics

UK to ban Channel migrants from appealing deportation: report 'Unacceptable number of people' crossing the Channel puts 'unprecedented strain' on country's asylum system, Home Office spokesperson says

February 4, 2023   

(Anadolu) The British government is aiming to stop “deportation appeals” for those who reach the UK via crossing the Channel in small boats, according to the Times newspaper. In a report on Friday, the British daily said the UK Home Office is […]

Interfaith

Islamic group sorry for branding synagogue a ‘place of non-believers’ Exclusive: Dawat-e-Islami, the movement buying Wembley United Synagogue, has 'apologised profusely' after distributing offensive fundraising flyers.

February 1, 2023   

(Jewish News) The Islamic movement buying Wembley United Synagogue has “apologised profusely” after its fundraising flyers sought help to purchase “a place of worship of non-believers.” Dawat-e-Islami, a global Sunni Muslim group founded in Pakistan, caused a wave of upset across social […]