Two extremist groups to be banned in Britain

Supporting two extremist groups, Minbar Ansar Deen and Boko Haram, will soon be made a criminal offence in Britain, after Home Secretary Theresa May asked for the two Islamist organisations to be banned under terrorism laws, BBC reported.

If the proposal is approved by parliament, both groups will be banned from operating in Britain from Friday, the Home Office said.

Minbar Ansar Deen is based in Britain, while Boko Haram operates from Nigeria.

The Home Office said Minbar Ansar Deen -- also known as Ansar al-Sharia UK -- promotes terrorism by distributing content through a forum on its website, which encourages individuals to travel overseas to engage in extremist activity, specifically fighting.

Boko Haram is a militant Islamist group based in Nigeria led by the country's most wanted man, Abubakar Shekau. Its name means "Western education is forbidden" and it has waged an insurgency for more than a decade.

If the groups are banned, it will be illegal for Britons to support or become a member of either group, to arrange meetings or wear clothing in support of them.

Offenders could face fines of up to 5,000 pounds or up to 10 years in prison.

There are 49 international terror organisations proscribed under Briain's Terrorism Act 2000, including Al Qaeda, al-Shabab and Islam4UK.

The Islam4UK, earlier led by radical Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary, was banned in 2010.