Different extremist groups in Britain today.

There are a number of groups in Britain today whose views and policies are seen as being outside the accepted norm.

Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT):

This is an international political party who share a pan Islamist vision with al Muhajiroun whose main aim is to combine all Muslim countries in a unitary Islamic state or caliphate, ruled by Islamic law and with a Caliph (head of state) elected by Muslims. The organization was founded in 1953 by Taqiuddin al- Nabhani, in Jerusalem and its global leadership is currently headed by Ata’ abu Rishta. The chairperson heading the UK branch is Dr. Abdul Wahid.

At the most recent estimate, it has almost one million members in over 40 countries. Hizb ut-Tahrir is very active in the west, particularly in the United Kingdom, and is also active in several Arab and Central Asian countries, despite being banned by most of the local governments.

Hizb ut-Tahrir strongly believes that a caliphate and rule through Islamic Shariah law will ensure stability and security. HT also call for the overthrow of so called puppet governments installed by the West in Muslims countries and due to the anti Zionist stance, the dismantling of the State of Israel.

HT are generally regarded as an extremist organisation due to their praise of suicide bombers as martyrs and encouraging others to take up arms against Western troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the Muslim world, Hizb ut-Tahrir position is to work at all levels of society to bring the Muslims back to living an Islamic way of life under the shade of the Khilafah (Caliphate) State following an exclusively political method.

Sources

http://www.hizb.org.uk/hizb/index.php
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/4127688.stm
http://www.socialcohesion.co.uk/files/1257159197_2.pdf

Al Muhajiroun (al M)

Al Muhajiroun was founded by Omar Bakri Mohammed in 1983, in Saudi Arabia. Due to the failure of the Hizbut Tahrir leadership to accept the new organisation, al M began to operate independently of HT. In January 1986 Bakri arrived in Britain after al M was banned as an organisation in Saudi Arabia.

NUS ban
Al Muhajiroun were banned by the National Union of Students in 2001 after some of its members were seen to be distributing literature promoting hate as well as information for students on how to enlist for training in militant camps. The complaints were raised by both Muslim and non Muslim students, and during one instance, police had to be called to remove the members when they called on Muslim students to ‘kill all Jews’. The following year, the NUS pulled out of a seminar at the London School of Economics after learning that a member of al Muhajiroun would also be sharing the platform.

Al Muhajiroun was eventually disbanded in 2004, and Omar Bakri left the UK for Lebanon voluntarily. He was unable to return to the UK after the then Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, revoked his passport. However, the remaining members of al M formed two new groups, the Saviour Sect and al-Ghurabaa.

Al Muhajiroun have resurfaced early this year, after men allegedly from the organization were seen booing soldiers returning from their tour of duties in Afghanistan, in Luton. The new spokesperson is Anjem Choudhary. An official relaunch of the organization in June 2009 was cancelled after Anjem Choudhary has also recently become chairman to the newly formed Islam4UK, an organization with similar views to al Muhajiroun. A protest promoting Shariah Law was organised to be held in London on the 31st of October 2009.

Al Muhajiroun have finally been banned by the Home Secretary on January 14th 2010, along with Islam4UK.
 

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Muhajiroun
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jun/18/al-muhajiroun-islamist-relaunch
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=169041&sectioncode=26
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5889411.ece
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/01/al-muhajiroun-muslim-extremist