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The National
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
UK rejects Hamas appeal to be removed from terror list
Hamas has failed in a bid to be removed from the list of terrorist organisations banned by the UK. Lawyers acting on behalf of the group submitted a 106-page legal application in April to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in an attempt to have the 2021 designation reversed. They claimed that Hamas's proscription makes the UK 'complicit in a genocide', by denying Palestinians 'legitimacy of the struggle' against the Israeli 'occupation'. It also claimed that the proscription as a terrorist group was contrary to the European Court of Human Rights because it restricted the freedom of speech and right to protest. The submission described the designation as 'disproportionate' because 'Hamas does not pose a threat to Britain or British citizens'. At the time the bid was submitted Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Hamas was a terrorist organisation which carried out a 'barbaric terrorist attack" on October 7, 2023. The Home Office has now confirmed that the bid has failed. 'The government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under regular review,' said the department. 'While we do not routinely comment on individual groups proscribed, we can confirm that Harakat al-Muqawamah (Hamas) is still listed as a proscribed organisation.' The report was filed by solicitor Fahad Ansari, director of Riverway Law, with the assistance of barristers Franck Magennis, who practises at Garden Court Chambers, and Daniel Grutters of One Pump Court. The appeal was fronted by Hamas's head of international relations Mousa Abu Marzouk, who provided a witness statement on the organisation and of the events on October 7, 2023. The report also says proscription has prevented Hamas's ability to broker a political solution to the conflict, drawing on examples from Northern Ireland and South Africa. Hamas's military wing was proscribed in 2001, but in 2021 then-home secretary Priti Patel extended it to the organisation's political wing. It comes as Palestine Action failed to halt its proscription as a terrorist organisation after mounting a legal challenge against the move. Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, brought the legal challenge against the Home Office over Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's decision to ban the group under the Terrorism Act 2000. Membership or support for the direct action group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Milestones on the road to union 1970 October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership. 1971 March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and 'strongly supports' the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates. July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE. July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement. August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year. August 15: Bahrain becomes independent. September 3: Qatar becomes independent. November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE. November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force. November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed. December 9: UAE joins the United Nations. The specs Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km On sale: Available to order now Price: From Dh801,800 How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11 What time: Each day's play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time. TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play. Medicus AI Started: 2016 Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai Sector: Health Tech Staff: 119 Funding: € 7.7 million (Dh31m) Citizenship-by-investment programmes United Kingdom The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency). All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport. The Caribbean Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport. Portugal The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years. 'Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,' states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest. Greece The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years. Spain The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit. Cyprus Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe. Malta The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each. The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years. Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year. Egypt A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000. 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Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
‘Kick Zionism to death,' says UK lawyer representing Hamas
One of the British lawyers representing Hamas has told supporters that 'Zionism' is in a 'serious crisis' and encouraged supporters to 'kick it to death'. Franck Magennis, one of three lawyers working on an application to remove the group from the Home Office's list of banned terrorist organisations, told the Socialist Workers' Party's Marxist Festival last week that 'Zionism is dying'. 'It [Zionism] is in a serious crisis; it looks like it is not long for the world, but that doesn't mean that we can be complacent. We must assure that we kick it to death. It must not be allowed to survive this crisis,' Magennis, a barrister at Garden Court Chambers, said in footage seen by this newspaper. • Gary Lineker 'not welcome' to speak at Jewish football writer's memorial His comments came after Riverway Law, the law firm that filed the application, announced that it had relaunched as Riverway to the Sea, a law centre 'dedicated to understanding and confronting the racist ideology of Zionism' through 'strategic litigation'. The name of the new organisation, which is being led by Magennis, and Fahad Ansari, a solicitor who is also representing Hamas, is a reference to the pro-Palestinian slogan 'from the River to the Sea, Palestine shall be free', which has been interpreted by some Jewish groups as a call for the elimination of Israel. • Who are the Israeli ministers sanctioned over Gaza comments? Riverway Law ceased trading in June and no longer function as a solicitor's practice regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which had opened an investigation into the firm in April after being alerted to social media posts by Ansari. On Monday, a spokesperson for the SRA said that the investigation is ongoing. Both Magennis and Ansari, who are working pro bono as it is an offence to accept money from a proscribed terrorist organisation, have previously made controversial comments on the conflict. In a speech outside Westminster magistrates court in support of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, a member of the rap trio Kneecap, who had been charged with a terrorism offence, Magennis said, 'It is over for Zionism.' • Hadley Freeman: A conversation every Jew I know is having He added that 'we must make sure that Zionism is not allowed to survive this crisis; we must contribute to the abolition of the state of Israel and its replacement with a single democratic state of Palestine'. In a separate interview earlier this year, Magennis said that the aim of the application was to 'end Israel'. He said: 'I will find a way to empathise with them and hopefully expand the consensus by a bit, so hopefully we can think about what it will mean to end this genocide, to end Israel, which I think is what my client wants'. 'I know a lot of Jews will hear that and think that's a call for some repetition of the Holocaust; it's not, it's a call for peace, it's a call for a democratic state,' he added. • BBC boss left Bob Vylan's Glastonbury death chants on live stream Last year, Ansari tweeted: 'The heroic Palestinian resistance — may every one of their bullets hit their targets … it is imperative that we all support them'. He also paid tribute to Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, following his death in Tehran last July. Both lawyers expressed support for Palestine Action prior to the group being proscribed, with Ansari describing them as 'the heroes of the moment'. In their 106-page legal application, Hamas claimed that proscription was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights because it unlawfully restricts freedom of speech and that it was disproportionate as Hamas 'does not pose any threat to Britain or British citizens'. The Home Office is expected to announce its ruling on Hamas's application on July 9. De-proscription is very rare, with only four groups having been taken off the list of banned terror groups since the system was introduced under the Terrorism Act 2000. The Campaign Against Antisemitism warned that a successful application would 'open the way for funding to be channelled through the UK to Hamas' and said that 'it is particularly perverse and revolting that they are invoking human rights in order to do so'. Riverway to the Sea, the Socialist Workers' Party and Garden Court Chambers were contacted for comment.
Telegraph
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
British law firm representing Hamas changes name to Riverway to the Sea
A law firm that tried to remove Hamas from the UK's list of proscribed terrorist groups has closed down in its current form after being investigated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Riverway Law will now reopen as the legal arm of a new organisation called 'Riverway to the Sea', which describes itself as 'dedicated to understanding and confronting the racist ideology of Zionism'. The firm's title is a reference to the pro-Palestinian slogan 'from the River to the Sea, Palestine shall be free'. The slogan has been interpreted in a variety of ways. Critics claim it rejects Israel's right to exist by asserting a Palestinian territorial claim to all land between the Jordan and the Mediterranean. Others characterise it as a call for the international recognition of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. The new firm states that its purpose is to use the British legal system to challenge Israel, whose name they render in quote marks, and Zionism 'through strategic litigation, legal education, and international co-ordination'. It cites asylum claims, employment tribunals and defamation suits as opportunities to further these goals. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, who first called for an SRA investigation into Riverway Law, told The Telegraph: 'This isn't a law firm committed to upholding the rule of law – they are naked activists who seek to weaponise it. The SRA need to expedite their investigation so these disgusting individuals can be brought to heel.' Riverway Law made headlines in April when it launched an appeal to have Hamas taken off Britain's list of proscribed groups. In a submission to Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, it argued Hamas posed 'no threat to the UK people' and should be allowed to operate here on free speech grounds. Days later, Mr Jenrick reported the firm to the SRA, arguing the appeal potentially breached UK sanctions rules on terror groups. He also drew attention to apparent social media posts about the war in Gaza by Fahad Ansari, the leading lawyer in the case and the director of Riverway. 'A legitimate resistance movement' The posts included claims that Hamas is a 'legitimate resistance movement' protecting Palestinians from 'UK-sponsored Israeli genocide'. Mr Ansari has defended his firm's actions, saying it took advice to ensure it did not breach its duties under the sanctions regime. The SRA is understood to have opened its investigation into the firm in May and was still at an early phase last month. However, Riverway Law ceased trading on June 29, and therefore no longer functions as a solicitors' practice regulated by the SRA. In a statement on its website, the firm said: 'In response to escalating repression and growing global momentum for justice in Palestine, we are proud to announce that Riverway Law is undergoing a restructure whereby it will become the legal arm of the newly launched Riverway to the Sea – a movement-embedded legal organisation committed to confronting Zionism through strategic litigation, legal education, and international coordination. 'We have therefore taken the decision to close the practice in its current manifestation and will soon be reopening a new firm that will be better equipped to deal with the challenges of our times.' Riverway submitted its 106-page application on behalf of Hamas to the Home Office in April, accompanied by a video which was posted to its social media channels. The appeal, believed to be the first of its kind, was fronted by Mousa Abu Marzouk, Hamas's head of international relations and its legal office. Mr Ansari told The Telegraph: 'In the face of a live-streamed genocide, we are restructuring to meet the needs of the struggle. Riverway to the Sea will deliver radical legal education to equip the next generation of legal fighters while the forthcoming Riverway Law Centre – breaking with outdated divisions between barristers and solicitors – will form our legal wing to drive bold, coordinated challenges to Zionism. 'Riverway to the Sea has already held discussions on deproscription challenges with lawyers in the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Australia. We have been invited to speak about deproscription at an international lawyers' convention this summer, and are currently collaborating with other Jewish lawyers to provide training about the anti-Semitism within Zionism. 'While we appreciate that a low-grade politician like Robert Jenrick may want to bolster his fascist credentials by claiming he shut the firm down, there is not and has never been any investigation into Riverway Law.'
Telegraph
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
British lawyers for Hamas investigated by watchdog
The law firm trying to remove Hamas from the UK's list of proscribed terrorist groups is being investigated by a solicitors' watchdog, The Telegraph understands. Riverway Law made headlines in April when it launched an appeal to have Hamas taken off Britain's list of proscribed groups. The firm made a submission to Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, arguing that Hamas posed 'no threat to the UK people' and should be allowed to operate here on free speech grounds. Just days after submitting its appeal to the Home Office, the firm was reported to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) by Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary. Mr Jenrick argued that Riverway's appeal potentially breached UK sanctions rules on terror groups. He also drew attention to apparent social media posts about the war in Gaza by Fahad Ansari, the leading lawyer in the case and the director of Riverway. The posts included claims that Hamas is a 'legitimate resistance movement' protecting Palestinians from 'UK-sponsored Israeli genocide'. A good reminder that in the majority of the world, Hamas is not a banned group but is viewed as a legitimate resistance movement fighting for liberation against a genocidal apartheid state occupying Palestinian land. — Fahad Ansari 🇵🇸 (Stop the Gaza genocide) (@fahadansari) December 6, 2023 The SRA is understood to be at an early phase of its investigation and no conclusions have yet been reached. In a letter to the watchdog sent in April, Mr Jenrick said there was 'a clear need to uphold public confidence in the legal profession and to ensure rigorous enforcement of the UK sanctions regime'. He said that there were 'significant questions as to whether Riverway have complied with their obligations under the UK sanctions regime, the SRA's own published guidance and broader professional standards expected of solicitors'. Mr Ansari has defended his firm's actions. In response to Mr Jenrick's complaint he said: 'We were in contact with OFSI [the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation], external counsel and others who had represented sanctioned organisation[s], to ensure that we did not breach our duties under the sanctions regime.' Riverway submitted a 106-page application to the Home Office in April, accompanied by a video which was posted to its social media channels. Today, our legal team submitted the application to the Home office to remove Hamas from the banned list of organisations under UK Counter terrorism powers You can read the full legal application here: — Riverway Law (@riverwaylaw) April 9, 2025 The application argued the proscription of Hamas in the UK should be lifted in line with European Convention of Human Rights protections in the interest of freedom of speech. It also claimed the ban is disproportionate and that Hamas poses 'no threat to the UK people'. The ongoing appeal, believed to be the first of its kind, is being fronted by Mousa Abu Marzouk, Hamas's head of international relations and its legal office. Mr Jenrick welcomed the SRA's investigation on Saturday, telling The Telegraph: 'Our sanctions regime is pointless if it isn't enforced. 'Ansari is a shameless apologist who argues Hamas poses no threat to the British people. What nonsense. This evil death cult threatens free people everywhere.' Mr Ansari has previously appeared to make a series of controversial social media posts related to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. In posts dating from last year he appeared to praise fighters of the 'courageous Palestinian mujahideen', wrote 'you should view Hamas as an army of angels' and dismissed international courts as 'hopeless', saying that 'only armed resistance' would help Palestinians. In April last year, a post on his X account said: 'Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating especially the courageous Palestinian mujahideen who continue to resist the Western-backed Israeli genocide entirely on their own. You are the pride of this Ummah. May you celebrate Eid one day in a fully liberated Palestine.'
Arab News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
18 British student groups support legal action to remove Hamas from UK terror list
LONDON: Eighteen student groups at British universities have supported legal moves to remove Hamas from the UK's list of proscribed terrorist organizations. Some of the groups are affiliated with student unions at leading UK academic institutions, including the London School of Economics, the University of Edinburgh, and University College London. The groups said the legal petition 'defends the right of students, academics and communities to think freely, speak openly and organize without fear of being criminalized,' The Times newspaper reported on Monday. In April, senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk instructed British firm Riverway Law to take legal action with the aim of removing his organization from a Home Office list of terrorist groups. The military wing of Hamas was banned by UK authorities in 2001. The ban was extended in 2021 to include its political bureau. Lawyers from the firm said in April that by banning Hamas, 'Britain is effectively denying the Palestinians the right to defend themselves.' The organization 'does not pose any threat' to Britain's national security, they added, and the ban was therefore 'disproportionate.' The prohibition of Hamas means it is a criminal offense for anyone in the UK to have any links with the organization or show support for it. The student groups said the ban on Hamas 'creates an atmosphere where advocacy for Palestine becomes a legal risk,' and students who participated in pro-Palestinian activism faced intimidation and threats. 'We therefore stand in support of Riverway Law's application to deproscribe Hamas, not as an endorsement of any group, but to protect the civic space essential for academic freedom and open inquiry,' they said. The student organizations backing the legal challenge include Edinburgh University Justice for Palestine Society, LSE Divest Encampment for Liberation, University of Birmingham Friends of Palestine, Newcastle Apartheid Off Campus, and the Students Against Apartheid Coalition at the University of Leeds.
