Why is the IRGC important?
Why has Britain acted now?
The Home Office also said the IRGC has been linked to threats against Iranian dissidents, journalists and Jewish communities on British soil. Last month, Britain joined 21 other countries, including the United States, in accusing the IRGC and the Quds Force of plotting against Iranian dissidents and Jewish communities overseas.
Anti-ban terrorist designation
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Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they are not always the same.
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Terrorist designation
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A terrorist designation officially classifies an organization as a terrorist group under a country’s anti-terrorism laws.
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Such a designation usually means:
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Membership becomes a criminal offence.
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Providing funds or material support is illegal.
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Assets can be frozen.
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Public recruitment or support of the group can also become an offence.
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Britain’s proposed ban
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Britain is taking a different legal route.
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Rather than adding the IRGC to its existing list of terrorist organizations banned under the Terrorism Act, the government is proposing new “ban-like” powers targeting foreign state-backed groups deemed threats to national security.
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If Parliament passes the legislation:
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Supporting or aiding the IRGC can be made a criminal offense with up to 14 years in prison.
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Prosecutors would no longer have to prove a direct link to the foreign state in every case.
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The law would target activities such as espionage, foreign interference, sabotage and other state-sponsored threats.
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In other words, Britain is proposing to ban the IRGC under a new national security framework, rather than simply adding it to its existing list of terrorist organizations.
What changes under the new law?
A senior associate editor with more than 30 years in the media, Stephen NR curates, edits and publishes impactful stories for Gulf News – both in print and online – focusing on Middle East politics, student affairs and commentators on global topics. Stephen has spent most of his career in journalism, working behind the scenes – forming headlines, editing copy and putting together newspaper pages with precision. For the past several years, he has brought the same dedication to Gulf News’ digital team, where he curates stories, crafts explainers and helps keep both online and print publications sharp and engaging.
