By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal
LONDON (AA) – The U.K. on Monday moved to ban a neo-Nazi group linked to the slogan “Death to traitors, freedom for Britain” used in court by a far-right extremist who murdered a British lawmaker.
U.K. Home Secretary Amber Rudd said National Action would be outlawed under the Terrorism Act (2000).
This would place it on the same level as terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda and the PKK.
In a statement, Rudd said: “National Action is a racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic organization which stirs up hatred, glorifies violence and promotes a vile ideology, and I will not stand for it.”
If the ban goes through parliament, National Action will become the first ultra-right group to be proscribed under British terrorism laws.
“Death to traitors, freedom for Britain!” — a slogan which appears next to group’s online listing — was used by Thomas Mair during a court hearing earlier this year.
Mair was found guilty of murdering Labour Party lawmaker Jo Cox in broad daylight, days before Britain’s Brexit referendum in June. He was jailed for life in November.
Speaking last month, Rudd said far-right groups had become “increasingly sophisticated” in their approach to promotion and recruitment via social media.
According to the U.K. legislation, National Action members or sympathizers will not be able to belong to the group, invite support for it, arrange meetings or wear clothing carrying the group’s symbols in public.
