Revealed: Starmer led Euro court appeal for Islamist group
Sir Keir Starmer gave advice to Hizb ut-Tahrir after ban in Germany for antisemitic propaganda storm
PA
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer gave legal advice to an Islamist group in its appeal over a ban in Germany, GB News can reveal.
Starmer advised Hizb ut-Tahrir in 2008, five years after it was banned from conducting activities in Germany over antisemitic leaflets.
The fundamentalist group said that Starmer led the legal team behind its submission to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, where it highlighted its “silencing” despite being a “non-violent political party based on Islam.”
Three more barristers from two other chambers supported Starmer’s legal leadership.
Dr Wahid Asif Shaida, who has worked as a family GP in HarrowGB NEWSThe extremist sect also said that Starmer’s legal submission highlighted that some members of the group “had their assets confiscated or frozen … despite several being German or EU nationals.”
GB News understands that this appeal application was one of Starmer’s final cases before he was named as Director of Public Prosecutions in July 2008.
The appeal failed, with the ECHR ruling in 2012 that it was inadmissible, and Starmer never represented the group in court.
The British government is reportedly currently considering a ban for the extremist group.
Hizb ut-Tahrir’s banning is being mooted after members chanted for “jihad” in a central London rally in October.
One speaker shouted at supporters: “What is the solution to liberate people in the concentration camp called Palestine?”
Some people in the rally then chanted back: “Jihad! Jihad! Jihad!”
The events sparked outrage, especially as the fundamentalist group is banned across the Muslim world and remains blocked in Germany.
It was also revealed in October that the group’s leader, Dr Abdul Wahid, is a GP in Harrow.
Dr Wahid has come under fire for failing to condemn the Oct. 7 terror attacks by Hamas, a group he has described as “freedom fighters.”
The NHS salaried family doctor also said that the attacks were an act of “resistance.”
His NHS trust told GB News this week that his “distressing comments” had been reported to NHS England.
Starmer’s 2008 legal work for the group came after Tony Blair considered proscribing the group following the 7/7 terror attacks in 2005.
A month after the attacks, Blair said: “We will proscribe Hizb-ut-Tahrir … We will also examine the grounds of proscription to widen them and put proposals forward in the new legislation.”
But the group successfully evaded a ban after police and intelligence chiefs reportedly warned against it, telling Downing Street that it would force them underground where they might further radicalise.
David Cameron also regularly proposed a ban on the extremist organisation, but never committed it to law.
A Labour spokesperson told GB News: “As Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer prosecuted terrorists with links to Hizb-ut-Tahrir and led the first ever prosecution of Al Qaeda.
“Keir Starmer and the Labour Party he leads have been clear that those who incite hatred or glorify terrorism need to face the full force of British law.
“Labour has repeatedly warned that there is a gap in the law around tackling hateful extremism, and we continue to call for tougher national action on hate crime. There is no place for threatening or extremist behaviour on Britain’s streets.”