Home Secretary Thera May said that the hardline Islamic group – which burned poppies in November and was threatening to do so again at the weekend – would be banned as of midnight tonight.
Muslims Against Crusades spokesperson Anjem Choudary told Sky News the planned Remembrance Day protest would be scrapped.
“Due to the danger of confrontation with groups like the BNP we were planning to move or reschedule the demonstration anyway,” he said.
“Now that there is a risk of arrest we are calling on our members and supporters not to attend the meeting tomorrow.”
The extremist group is the successor to Islam4UK, an organisation which has already been outlawed.
As of midnight, membership will be a criminal offence as the group is seen to glorify terrorism.
May said: “I am satisfied Muslims Against Crusades is simply another name for an organisation already proscribed under a number of names including Al Ghurabaa, The Saved Sect, Al-Muhajiroun and Islam4UK. The organisation was proscribed in 2006 for glorifying terrorism and we are clear it should not be able to continue these activities by simply changing its name.”
On the Muslims For Crusades website (which now appears to have been taken down), followers were invited to observe “a total lack of silence” on Armistice Day. The group points to atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan and the torture of Guantanamo Bay inmates.
Here are some of the reactions to the ban, as vented on Twitter:
“If Muslims Against Crusades have been banned from operating, why are the EDL still allowed to roam the streets?” says one person.
“I profoundly disagree with banning the group Muslims against Crusades. Political freedom can’t just be for people who share your politics,” tweeted another.
And: “I can’t help but think that the timing of the ban on Muslims Against Crusades is designed solely to get Theresa May off the tabloid hook.”
What do you think?
