UK government is set to pass new legislation that will give it the power to declare state-sponsored organisations, such as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), among others, illegal in a bid to tighten national security.
The plan will be presented by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the imminent King’s Speech slated for 13th May.
This bill seeks to grant the government new powers to list such organisations, which may be affiliated to foreign states, as terrorist groups.
This comes at a time when there is an increasing apprehension about the actions of state-sponsored actors.
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The IRGC is an important part of the Iranian military-political machine and has for a long time faced accusations from Western countries that it has sponsored terrorism across the world.
Under current regulations, like the Terrorism Act 2000, it is possible for the government to proscribe non-state bodies. Nevertheless, the officials claim that current law does not provide sufficient mechanisms to deal with the threats posed by organizations backed by foreign states.
These calls for changes are inspired by the recommendations of an independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall, who suggested giving the government new powers similar to proscription provisions, but focused on state-sponsored organizations.
The calls for changes have become even more urgent in the wake of several security incidents in the UK that were connected to the groups allegedly sponsored by Iran. The move has been followed by several European countries and allies, which banned the IRGC from their territories.
Though previous administrations had been cautious about such changes due to diplomatic considerations, the current government maintains that new threats require new legal measures. These actions are believed to help reduce the influence of foreign states, promote public safety, and patch up holes in current terrorism laws.
If adopted, this regulation would mean considerable progress in the country’s security policy.
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