New Delhi Oct 10: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially declared Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) a “banned outfit,” stating its intention to establish an Islamic state and caliphate globally, including in India, through the overthrow of democratic governments via jihad.
The MHA emphasized that HuT poses a “grave threat” to India’s democratic framework and internal security. In a statement on X, the Ministry reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to a policy of zero tolerance toward terrorism, noting that HuT has been involved in various terror-related activities, including radicalizing vulnerable youth to join terrorist organizations and financing terrorist operations, which jeopardizes national security and sovereignty.
Hizb-ut-Tahrir was founded in 1953 in then-Jordanian-controlled Jerusalem by Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani, a Palestinian Islamic scholar. The organization is known for promoting the establishment of a caliphate and has been accused of using social media and secure messaging apps to encourage young people to engage in terrorist activities.
In a formal notification, the MHA invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, outlining the definition of a terrorist organization and specifying HuT’s activities that constitute a threat to national integrity. The notification included HuT in the First Schedule of the Act, marking its formal designation as a terrorist organization. The government affirmed its resolve to combat terrorism decisively, ensuring the safety and security of the nation.
