The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), described by critics as an extremist organisation with links to Hamas and a prominent role in pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the UK, has been added to Egypt’s list of terrorist groups while continuing to operate without restrictions in Britain.
The organisation was among 35 groups named this week by Cairo’s Criminal Court. Two senior MAB figures were also included on a separate list of 36 designated individuals.
Although Egypt has taken action against the group, MAB has not been subject to comparable measures in the UK.
The decision has prompted critics to accuse the Government of failing to act and to call for a fresh examination of the organisation’s alleged links to extremism.
MAB, a partner of the left-wing Stop the War Coalition, has helped organise more than 30 pro-Palestinian demonstrations in London and other British cities since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
Among those named by Egypt are senior MAB figures Dr Anas Altikriti and Ahmed al-Rawi.
Altikriti, who served as MAB president from 2004 to 2005 and is listed as one of its directors, has described reports of Israeli civilians being murdered and raped on October 7 as “a lie”. He has also said that taking hostages formed “a very important part” of an “act of resistance”.
The Muslim Association of Britain, part of a coalition involved in pro-Palestinian marches across the UK since October 7, 2023, has been designated a terrorist organisation in Egypt
Dr Anas Altikriti, a senior MAB figure, has been named on Egypt’s list of designated individuals
Ahmed al-Rawi, another senior MAB figure designated by Egypt, previously said British troops in Iraq could be regarded as legitimate targets for militants
Al-Rawi has previously argued that British forces stationed in Iraq in 2004 were legitimate targets for Iraqi militants, saying civilians had “the right” to resist the British presence.
MAB was established in 1997 by Muhammad Kathem Sawalha, a former Hamas leader. It was also among the organisations involved in a pro-Palestinian march in London on Armistice Day in 2023, only weeks after the October 7 attacks.
The event drew criticism over anti-Semitic placards carried by some demonstrators, as well as the decision to hold the march on the country’s national day of remembrance.
Suella Braverman, who was Home Secretary at the time, called the demonstration “deeply troubling”, citing “sick, inflammatory and, in some cases, clearly criminal chants, placards and paraphernalia” that were displayed openly.
In 2023, reports revealed that MAB co-founder Sawalha was living in a two-storey London council property that he had purchased without a mortgage after receiving a £112,000 Right to Buy discount.
Despite his reported links to Hamas and political activities, Sawalha obtained a British passport in the early 2000s and became a council tenant in north London in 2003.
Al-Rawi, an Iraqi-born British passport holder, was among 93 scholars who signed a 2004 declaration, or “bayyan”, expressing support for uprisings by Iraqi and Palestinian militants against occupation.
In defending the statement, he compared British and American forces in Iraq with Nazi forces occupying France in 1940.
He said: “If they, the British, attack, it is the right of civilians to resist them. Any people under occupation have the right to resist. I prefer that resistance to be peaceful, but if they choose other means, that is their choice.”
Al-Rawi also said: “My view is that the occupation is illegal. I could not describe the resistance, including military resistance to the occupation, as criminal.”
MAB has faced further scrutiny over its former vice-president Mohammed Kozbar, who in 2015 praised Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin as “the master of the martyrs of the resistance” during a visit to his grave.
Kozbar had served as an adviser to the Metropolitan Police as part of its community engagement work in London. He was removed from the position in February 2024.
Scotland Yard said it had decided to “cease engagement” with him after reviewing “a social media post from late January 2024” that had been brought to the force’s attention.
Another former senior MAB member and spokesman, Azzam Tamimi, has previously described himself as a Hamas sympathiser.
MAB was founded in 1997 by Muhammad Kathem Sawalha, a former Hamas leader
Following the 7/7 terror attacks in London in 2005, Tamimi argued that Palestinian suicide bombings should be viewed differently from attacks carried out in Britain.
“The bombings were wrong in London and wrong in Madrid, but Palestine is a completely different situation,” he said in an interview with the BBC. “Thousands of ordinary Palestinians are rotting in refugee camps and responding to oppression.”
Egypt’s latest ruling also names the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe, or FIOE, which was established by the Muslim Brotherhood. MAB is a founding member of the federation.
The Egyptian court added the Muslim Brotherhood to its permanent terrorism list one day earlier.
MAB and the Cordoba Foundation, established by Altikriti, were designated as terrorist organisations by the United Arab Emirates in 2014.
In March 2024, Michael Gove, then the Levelling Up Secretary, referred to MAB in Parliament as the Government introduced its updated definition of extremism.
Gove told MPs: “Organisations such as the Muslim Association of Britain, which is the British affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, give rise to concern because of their Islamist orientation and views.
“We will hold these and other organisations to account, assess whether they meet our definition of extremism and take action where appropriate.”
He added: “The spread of extremist ideologies has become increasingly clear in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks and presents a genuine threat to the security of our citizens and to our democracy.
“This is the work of extreme right-wing and Islamist extremists who seek to separate Muslims from wider society and drive division within Muslim communities.
“They aim to radicalise individuals, deny people their full rights, restrict freedom of expression, encourage hatred and weaken our democratic institutions.”
MAB has previously rejected claims that it is connected to the Muslim Brotherhood.
However, a UK Government review of the Muslim Brotherhood published in 2015 concluded that both MAB and the Cordoba Foundation were associated with the organisation.
Critics have argued that it would be “unacceptable” for the Government not to reassess MAB following its designation by Egyptian authorities.
Alex Hearn, co-director of Labour Against Antisemitism, told the Daily Mail: “The Government must take stronger action against the Muslim Association of Britain and seriously examine whether it should be designated, particularly now that countries in the Middle East have taken that step.
“MAB was founded by a former Hamas leader, and members of the organisation have praised the October 7 slaughter of families in Israel.
“The Government’s silence and inaction are 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 agencies will examine closely the evidence that prompted authorities in Cairo to take action.
“MAB is now more likely to be firmly on the radar of our security services. If the circumstances warrant it, we must hope that action follows.”
The Daily Mail has contacted MAB and the Home Office for comment.