Britons back ban on Muslim Brotherhood by more than 5 to 1, poll finds

A majority of Britons support banning the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation, according to a new poll commissioned by campaign group Muslims Against Antisemitism and Christianphobia.

The survey, conducted by JL Partners among 2,000 UK adults, found 54 per cent would support proscribing the Muslim Brotherhood under UK terrorism laws, compared with just 10 per cent who opposed the move.

Support increased significantly after respondents were shown findings from the Government’s 2015 review into the organisation, which concluded parts of the Muslim Brotherhood had “a highly ambiguous relationship with violent extremism”.

According to the pollster's findings, shared exclusively with GB News, support for proscription rose to 66 per cent after people were shown the findings, while opposition fell to just eight per cent.

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The poll also found that support for a ban increased with age. Around 49 per cent of those aged 18 to 34 backed proscription, rising to 59 per cent among those aged 55 to 74 and 66 per cent among people aged 75 and over.

Researchers also tested whether international action influenced public opinion.

When respondents were told that countries including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates had formally designated or banned the Muslim Brotherhood or affiliated groups, support for proscription rose to 64 per cent.

When asked to compare the organisation with other groups already proscribed by the UK, including Al-Qaeda, Isis, Hamas, Boko Haram, the Wagner Group and Palestine Action, 65 per cent said they supported adding the Muslim Brotherhood to the list.

The findings come amid widespread concern about national security. Nearly eight in 10 respondents (78 per cent) said they were concerned about international terrorism, while 74 per cent expressed concern about Islamist extremism. Cybercrime topped the list of perceived threats, with 79 per cent saying they were concerned.

Despite those concerns, confidence in the Government's handling of national security appears limited. Only 40 per cent said they trusted ministers at least “a fair amount” to make the right decisions on protecting the country, while 54 per cent said they trusted the Government “not very much” or “not at all.”

The survey also suggested that many voters believe ministers are moving too slowly when it comes to banning terrorist organisations.

Thirty-nine per cent said the Government was too slow to proscribe groups, compared with 11 per cent who believed it acted too quickly.

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That view was strongest among Reform UK and Conservative voters, although Labour supporters were also more likely to say the Government was too slow than too quick.

Respondents were also asked whether Britain should follow the lead of close allies such as the US when deciding whether to designate terrorist organisations. Just over half (51 per cent) said the UK should probably or definitely do so, compared with 25 per cent who said it should not.

On enforcement, 48 per cent said UK authorities should arrest, extradite or prosecute members of Muslim Brotherhood chapters that have already been designated by the United States, even if the organisation has not been proscribed in Britain. Twenty-seven per cent disagreed.

The Muslim Brotherhood is not currently proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK.

The Government's 2015 review stopped short of recommending a ban, although it concluded that aspects of the organisation's ideology and activities were contrary to British values and linked some elements to extremist movements.

Ghanem Nuseibeh, Chair of Muslims against Antisemitism and Christianphobia (MAASUK), said that the findings demonstrate the British public understands that the Muslim Brotherhood is a threat that needs to be dealt with.

“The numbers demonstrate that the sentiments aren’t racially motivated or directed against a religion, but against a security threat.

“With an increasing number of countries acting against MB, Britain, which has for a long time been a favourite destination for MB members, risks becoming even more of a soft belly for the group.”

“As Muslims fighting extremism, we cannot afford inaction. Inaction leads to painting our communities with false accusations and keeps our communities exposed to extremism.

“The poll has clearly shown that the British public’s concern is not related to Muslims but related to a group that has hijacked the religion of Islam for its own purposes.”

“We therefore urge the government to take this seriously and act against Muslim Brotherhood to protect our Muslim communities and the wider British public.

“Failure to do so makes our fight against antisemitism and anti-Christian hate much more difficult.

“Failure to act against MB also makes integration much more difficult and it is in everyone’s interest that the government takes this matter seriously.”

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