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LONDON, Oct 30 (PTI): Alarmed at an increasing number of British Muslims offering themselves to fight along with the Taliban in Afghanistan, Britain has issued a stern warning to them saying they risk being shot by British forces or put on trial if they return alive.
British defence secretary, Mr. Geoff Hoon, told reporters here last evening, "I hope that anyone who is contemplating going to Afghanistan does think very carefully about the consequences, both to them and their families, in terms of the grief they might suffer - as well as contemplating the legal action that might follow on their return, if indeed they were to return."
The warning of "legal action" followed suggestions from several members of Parliament that British subjects who take up arms against the United Kingdom armed forces in Afghanistan could be charged with treason.
In the House of Commons, yesterday, Mr. Hoon repeated the government's message that the military action against Afghanistan was targeting terrorists, not Muslims.
"This is not a conflict between the West and Islam. This is a conflict between right and wrong," he said.
He also sought to counter fears that the war could be widened to include Mr. Saddam Hussain's Iraq, by repeatedly stressing that there was no evidence linking Iraq to either the terrorist attacks on September 11 or the anthrax letters in the United States.
According to a report, a growing number of young British Muslims are trying to join the Taliban forces. The London-based Al-Muhajiroun group yesterday claimed "The death of three men from Luton and one from Crawley in US raids on Afghanistan is not deterring recruiting."
According to Al-Muhajiroun, nearly 1,000 British Muslims have travelled to Afghanistan since September 11. One recruiter on the Pakistani border claimed that 60 per cent of foreigners fighting for the Taliban are from Britain.
Mr. Hassan Butt (21), from Manchester, is one of about 40 Britons in Lahore recruiting for the Taliban. According to reports here, he claims to have been in contact with a thousand British Muslims, "who are going to the holy war. Hundreds have passed through Lahore on their way. There are more fighters joining jehad from Britain than anywhere else in the West. News that the first Britons have been lost will not deter those who will follow," he said.
British passport holders are believed to be among the Harkatul Mujahideen group in Afghanistan, which has close links to Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda and is classified as a terrorist organisation. It recruits through hard-line Islamic leaders.
Meanwhile, police in Britain are investigating the recruitment. It is understood that Al-Muhajiroun and its Tottenham-based leader, Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed will be the focus of attention.
An official source said "Those who
recruit, train or conspire to enlist, and anyone who is trained in how
to handle a gun or use explosives could face up to ten years jail under
the terrorism act."
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