Homophobic neo-Nazi group banned in the UK
The Home Secretary has employed terrorism laws to ban a far-right group for the first time.
It was announced today that the neo-Nazi white supremacist group National Action will be banned in the UK, under powers from the 2000 Terrorism Act.
Though militant Islamist groups and groups linked to terrorism in Northern Ireland have been proscribed in the past, today marks the first time that a group engaged in extreme-right wing activities will be proscribed.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd described the group as “racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic”.
She said: “As Home Secretary, I am clear that the safety and security of our families, communities and country comes first.
“So today I am taking action to proscribe the neo-Nazi group National Action. This will mean that being a member of, or inviting support for, this organisation will be a criminal offence.
“National Action is a racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic organisation which stirs up hatred, glorifies violence and promotes a vile ideology, and I will not stand for it. It has absolutely no place in a Britain that works for everyone.”
An order proscribing the group been laid in Parliament today. The order is due to come into effect on December 16, making it a crime to be a member of the National Action.
The decision comes after far-right terrorist Thomas Mair was found guilty of the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.
Words Mair shouted as he appeared in court, “Death to traitors, freedom for Britain”, are displayed on the National Action website.
The group, who have an emphasis on radicalising young people, have a disturbing far-right agenda, including calling for gay parenting to be banned and families broken apart.
Their website recently carried an interview with a neo-Nazi who was arrested for stealing the hat of transgender comic Eddie Izzard.
The interview brands Izzard a “tranny” and a “freak”, and ends with misspelt Nazi salute “Sieg Hail” [sic].
