TOI correspondent from London: The UK government indicated on Monday that it could consider lifting the ban on Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has toppled the Assad regime in Syria, if the group delivers on its promises like protecting the minorities and people’s rights.
HTS has been proscribed in the UK as a terrorist organisation since 2017 owing to its original links with al-Qaeda. Any association or support to HTS is a criminal offence in the UK.
However, indicating a rethink on continuing the ban on HTS, cabinet office minister Pat McFadden told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “HTS has been proscribed as a terror group for quite a long time now, so it has to be considered.”
“The leader of that group has distanced himself in a way from some of the things that have been said in the past. He is saying some of the right things about the protection of minorities and respecting people’s rights, so we will look at that in the days to come. Obviously, if the situation stabilises, there will be a decision to make about how to deal with whatever new regime is in place there,” he said, adding: “It should be a relatively swift decision. A lot will depend on whether the statements about protection of minorities and citizens are backed up.”
Though HTS has its origins in al-Qaeda, it claims to have severed its ties with the latter.
Presently, the UK does not have any communication via any intermediary with HTS.