Egypt lists British Muslim organisation behind pro-Palestine marches in London as 'extremist' terror group - but it is still free to operate in UK

An 'extremist' Muslim group linked to Hamas and behind pro-Palestine marches in the UK has been designated as a terrorist group in Egypt - yet remains free to operate without restriction in Britain. 

The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) was one of 35 organisations placed on Egypt's terrorism list this week by the Cairo Criminal Court.

Two leading MAB figures are also among the 36 individuals named on the list.

Yet despite its inclusion by Egypt, the group has not been placed under any restrictions in Britain. 

Critics have today called out the Government's 'inaction' over the matter and said its links to extremism should be reviewed. 

As a partner of the Stop the War Coalition of left-wing groups, MAB has played a leading role in helping organise more than 30 pro-Palestine protests across London and other UK cities since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. 

Daily Mail has also found that among those who acted as protest stewards for MAB were Mohammed Alfatih, a suspected Hamas terrorist who faces extradition for allegedly plotting the massacre of European Jews.

Senior MAB figures - Dr Anas Altikriti and Ahmed al-Rawi - were also formally designated as terrorists in Egypt this week.

Dr Altikriti, who was president of MAB from 2004 to 2005 and is listed as a director of the association, described the murder and rape of Israeli citizens on Oct 7 as 'a lie' and called the taking of hostages 'a very important part' of any 'act of resistance'.

The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) - part of a coalition behind pro-Palestine marches throughout the UK since October 7, 2023 - has been designated as a terror group in Egypt

Senior MAB figure Dr Anas Altikriti is included in Egypt's list of designated individuals 

Ahmed al-Rawi, a senior MAB figure and also designated as a terrorist in Egypt, previously said that British troops stationed in Iraq were legitimate targets for militants

Al-Rawi meanwhile said British troops stationed in Iraq in 2004 were legitimate targets of Iraqi militants, adding it was 'the right of the civilians to resist the British'.

MAB was co-founded in 1997 by former Hamas chief Muhammad Kathem Sawalha, and was among the groups that organised the pro-Palestine march in London on Armistice Day 2023, which took place five weeks after the Oct 7 massacre.

Critics specifically called out the protest for the many anti-Semitic placards brandished by protesters, alongside the timing of the march which coincided with the national day of remembrance. 

Suella Braverman, who was Home Secretary at the time, described the march as 'deeply troubling' for the 'sick, inflammatory and, in some cases, clearly criminal chants, placards and paraphernalia openly on display'.

In 2023, MAB co-founder Sawalha was found to be living in a two-storey council property in London that he bought mortgage-free after receiving a £112,000 Right to Buy discount off its market value. 

Despite his activities and links to Hamas, Sawalha was granted a British passport in the early 2000s and became a council tenant in north London in 2003.

Meanwhile, the now-designated al-Rawi - an Iraqi-born British passport holder - was among 93 scholars who signed a 'bayyan' or declaration in 2004 supporting uprisings against occupation by Iraqi and Palestinian militants.

Defending the declaration, al-Rawi compared British and US forces in Iraq at the time with the Nazi invaders of France in 1940. 

He said: 'If they (the British) attack, it's the right of the civilians to resist the British. Any people who are occupied, they have the right to resist. I prefer it to be peaceful, but if they choose to resist by other means it's their choice.' 

Al-Rawi further said: 'My opinion on the occupation is that it is illegal. I couldn't call the resistance, even military resistance to the occupation, I couldn't consider it criminal.'

MAB has previously faced criticism over its former vice-president, Mohammed Kozbar, who praised Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin as 'the master of the martyrs of the resistance' during a 2015 visit to his grave. 

Kozbar had been appointed as a Met Police adviser as part of the force's community engagement in London, but was removed from this role in February 2024.

In a statement, Scotland Yard said it had decided to 'cease engagement' after a 'social media post from late January 2024 was brought to our attention and reviewed.'

Another MAB figure, Azzam Tamimi, a former senior member and spokesman, previously described himself as a Hamas sympathiser.

MAB was co-founded in 1997 by former Hamas chief Muhammad Kathem Sawalha

In the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings in 2005, Tamimi argued that Palestinian suicide bombings were different from terror attacks in Britain. 

'The bombings were wrong in London, were wrong in Madrid, but it is a completely different situation in Palestine,' said Tamimi, speaking on the BBC. 'Thousands of ordinary Palestinians are rotting in refugee camps and reacting to oppression.' 

Egypt's ruling this week also designates the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe (FIOE), an organisation established by the Muslim Brotherhood - of which MAB is a founding member. 

The Egyptian court placed the Muslim Brotherhood on its permanent list a day earlier. 

MAB and the Cordoba Foundation, which Dr Altikriti founded, were designated as terrorist organisations in 2014 by the UAE.

In March 2024, the then Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove named MAB in Parliament when the Government launched its new definition of extremism. 

Mr Gove told the Commons: 'Organisations such as the Muslim Association of Britain, which is the British affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood...give rise to concern for their Islamist orientation and views.

'We will be holding these and other organisations to account to assess if they meet our definition of extremism and will take action as appropriate.'

He added: 'The pervasiveness of extremist ideologies has become increasingly clear in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks and poses a real risk to the security of our citizens and our democracy.

'This is the work of extreme Right-wing and Islamist extremists who are seeking to separate Muslims from the rest of society and create division within Muslim communities.

'They seek to radicalise individuals, deny people their full rights, suppress freedom of expression, incite hatred and undermine our democratic institutions.'

MAB has previously denied that it is associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.

But a UK government review of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2015 found that MAB and the Cordoba Foundation were both associated with the group. 

Critics have said it is 'unacceptable' for the Government to not review MAB given its designation as a terror group by Egyptian authorities. 

Alex Hearn, Labour Against Antisemitism co-director, told Daily Mail: 'It is high time the Government took firmer action against the Muslim Association of Britain and looked at designation seriously, especially given that countries in the Middle East have now taken this step. 

'MAB is an organisation founded by a former Hamas chief and whose members have praised the October 7 slaughter of families in Israel. 

'Silence and inaction from the government on this is unacceptable.' 

Peter Clarke, the former head of Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'Egypt's decision to designate the Muslim Association of Britain will not go unnoticed. 

'UK intelligence services will be looking closely at the evidence that led authorities in Cairo to act. 

'MAB is now more likely to be firmly on the radar of our security agencies. If appropriate, we must hope that action will be taken'. 

Daily Mail has contacted MAB and the Home Office for comment.