Success: Home Offices rejects Hamas application for de-proscription

The Home Office has announced that Hamas will not be de-proscribed, following the organisation’s application to be removed from the UK’s list of banned terror groups.

Campaign Against Antisemitism provided a detailed dossier to the Home Secretary in response to Hamas’ application after it was launched.

The Hamas case argued that the proscription of Hamas deprives British citizens of their rights to freedom of expression and protest.

Hamas can now appeal to the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission.

Meanwhile, following complaints by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regarding Fahad Ansari, one of Hamas’ lawyers, an investigation has been opened. His law firm is reportedly ceasing to trade as a regular legal practice and the organisation changed its name from Riverway Law to Riverway to the Sea. The name is a blatant reference to the phrase “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free,” which most British Jews regard as an antisemitic call to destroy the Jewish state, according to our representative polling.

The SRA is investigating Mr Ansari’s social media activity, and we have also submitted complaints to the Bar Standards Board regarding the barristers involved in Hamas’ application in relation to their rhetoric.