Hizb ut-Tahrir active in Rochdale

An Islamist group, which is believed to have several thousand members in Britain, and is particularly active in radicalising young British Muslims on university campuses, has been handing out leaflets to passers by on Lower Tweedale Street, Rochdale.

Pitching a stand outside World Wide Cash and Carry, Hizb ut-Tahrir party members handed out large information packs to passers by. The information packs included their party policy, advice to the Muslim community, information regarding Khilafah and eight leaflets covering topics such as crime, morality and racism.

Hizb ut-Tahrir publicity says it is 'working for the re-establishment of Khilafah, Caliphate, Islamic state in the Muslim world through a peaceful means'.

However, the Government is "actively considering" a second-tier banning order that would outlaw groups that are not outright terrorist organisations but promote extremism and hatred on the streets, and Hizb ut-Tahrir is expected to be the first target of such a banning order.

Home Secretary Theresa May told the Commons home affairs select committee that the anti-terror taskforce set up by David Cameron in the immediate aftermath of the murder of drummer Lee Rigby, was discussing the possibility.

Home Office lawyers have always advised against such a ban on the grounds that such a move would only serve as a recruiting agent if it resulted in a free-speech legal appeal. Tony Blair dropped moves to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir in 2006 after being advised that it could prove counterproductive.