ITN Solicitors: UK government review of Muslim Brotherhood cleares them of any links to terrorism

Below is the full text of the press release by ITN Solicitors. MEMO has also published a statement from the Muslim Brotherhood on this matter earlier today.

Lawyers representing the Muslim Brotherhood have been informed that the Prime Minister’s review into the organisation’s activities has cleared them of any links to terrorism.

In August, the Financial Times reported that the review had concluded that “the group should not be labelled a terrorist organisation and in fact […] found little evidence its members are involved in terrorist activities.” The Financial Times report went on to say the review’s release had been delayed because of its conclusions and their diplomatic implications.

“Sir John will say that the Brotherhood is not a terrorist organisation. The Saudis and Emiratis will then be very upset with us,” a source told the Financial Times.

Recent ‘leaks’ from the Cabinet Office to the press in contradiction to these stories appear to be an attempt to force a reversal in the review’s original findings and besmirch the name of the Muslim Brotherhood and their members resident in the UK.

In particular, on 19th October 2014, the Sunday Telegraph reported apparent findings of the review which attempted to vilify the Muslim Brotherhood and link it to extremism. Much of the Telegraph’s report has been proven to be inaccurate and misleading. The report notably cited former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove as an ‘advisor’ to the review and Dr Lorenzo Vidino as have having ‘worked on the review’.

It has been confirmed that neither had in fact worked on the review as claimed. This trend of leaks suggests an improper attempt to manipulate the review’s findings. The Muslim Brotherhood has engaged fully with Sir John Jenkin’s review and
provided access to its members at the highest level possible, throughout the world.

The Muslim Brotherhood reserves the right to reply to any negative allegations made against it from any quarter. To date, the Review Team has not provided the Muslim Brotherhood’s legal team with any allegations that it considers to be of concern.

There is legitimate concern that, despite the findings of the review, the goalposts are changing. The Muslim Brotherhood calls on the Prime Minister to publish Sir John’s report in full and in its original form.

In the spirit of open engagement, which commenced prior to the review being announced, the Muslim Brotherhood has offered to meet with the Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary to directly discuss the review’s findings.