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Starmer plans new powers to ban state-backed terror groups
TL;DR
The UK government plans to introduce new anti-terror powers to ban state-backed groups like Iran's IRGC. This legislation will create criminal offences for supporting or promoting these organizations.
Key points
- UK government plans new anti-terror powers
- Legislation to ban state-backed groups like IRGC
- New criminal offences for supporting listed groups
- Announcement expected in King's Speech on 13 May
- IRGC is a major force in Iran
Mentioned in this story
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps
Ministers are planning to introduce new anti-terror powers that would enable them to ban state threats such as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in the next parliamentary session.
The new powers would allow the UK government to label state-backed groups as terrorist organisations.
The legal change is expected to create new criminal offences for people who support or promote groups formally listed as state-supported threats.
The BBC understands the new powers will be included in the government's plans for legislation, which will be set out in the King's Speech on 13 May.
The IRGC was set up to defend Iran's Islamic system and has become a major military, political and economic force in the country.
It is estimated to have tens of thousands of active personnel and has consistently been accused by Western nations of sponsoring terrorism abroad.
Labour MPs have been urging the UK government to ban the IRGC following a series of antisemitic attacks since the war in Iran started.
An Islamist group suspected of having Iranian links - Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia - claimed responsibility for a recent attack on Jewish community ambulances in north London, along with other incidents in the UK and Europe.
Other European countries and the EU have already added the IRGC to their lists of proscribed terrorist organisations.
This week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK must "deal with malign state actors" and suggested his government would bring forward legislation "as quickly as possible".
The Jewish Chronicle newspaper also quoted Sir Keir as saying he was "very worried" about the increasing use of proxies by the Iranian government.
"In relation to malign state actors more generally, we do need legislation in order to take necessary measures and that is legislation we're bringing forward as soon as we can," Sir Keir said, in a video posted by the newspaper.
"We're going into a new session in a few weeks' time and we're going to bring that legislation forward."
The previous Conservative government did not proscribe the IRGC, despite suggesting it would do so in 2023.
Maintaining diplomatic relations with Iran has been cited as a reason for not proscribing the IRGC in the past.
Q&A
What new anti-terror powers is the UK government planning?
The UK government plans to introduce powers that would allow them to label state-backed groups, such as the IRGC, as terrorist organizations.
When will the new anti-terror legislation be announced?
The new anti-terror legislation is expected to be included in the King's Speech on 13 May.
What are the consequences of supporting banned state-backed groups?
Supporting or promoting groups that are formally listed as state-supported threats will create new criminal offences under the proposed legislation.
What is the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)?
The IRGC is a major military, political, and economic force in Iran, established to defend the country's Islamic system.
