Cabinet minister Pat McFadden has told the BBC the government is considering if a terrorist designation should remain for an Islamist militant group which led the overthrow of al-Assad rule in Syria over the weekend.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is proscribed as a terror organisation by the UK, as well as the US, UN and others.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday, McFadden said the government will look at the designation in the “days to come” and it will be a “relatively swift decision”.
It comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the end of the rule of Bashar al-Assad, who was overthrown and fled Syria on Sunday.
The rebels efforts were led by HTS, an Islamist militant group which is banned in the UK because of its past association with al-Qaeda, once led by Osama bin Laden.
Under the Terrorism Act 2000, the home secretary may proscribe an organisation if they believe it commits or participates in, prepares for, promotes or encourages, or is otherwise concerned in terrorism, and if it is proportionate to do so.
HTS’s leader Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, who has now started using his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, cut ties with al-Qaeda in 2016. He has recently pledged tolerance for different religious groups and communities.
When asked by the BBC on Monday if HTS’s designation as a terror group is being looked at, McFadden said: “Yes, obviously that’s got to be considered. They’ve been proscribed for quite a long time now.”
“The leader of that group has distanced himself away 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, about protecting people’s rights. So we’ll look at that in the days to come.”
McFadden, minister for intergovernmental relations and chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, described the situation as “very fluid” and said the government was not aware of what is going to happen in Syria.
“But 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.
“I think should be a relatively swift decision. So it’s something that will have to be considered quite quickly given the speed of the situation on the ground.
“A lot will depend on whether their statements about the protection of minorities and citizens are backed up.”
Former ex-head of MI6 Sir John Sawers elsewhere said it would be “rather ridiculous” if the UK was unable to engage with HTS because of the ban.
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said the Conservatives wanted to “put the Syrian people first” and called on the government to review the “security and defence implications as well as the terrorist risks” posed by the rebel groups.
McFadden also confirmed there had been “no request” for al-Assad’s wife, Asma al-Assad, who was born in the UK and holds a British passport, to come to the UK.
He added: “They’re in Russia. They’ve sought asylum there, refuge there, as far as I know. So, it’s not an issue that’s come up.”
Sir Keir previously said he welcomed the end of Assad’s rule, but it was “early days” yet in deciding how the UK would choose to engage with those who have overthrown him.
“The Syrian people have suffered under Assad’s barbaric regime for too long and we welcome his departure,” the prime minister said.
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