A controversial Islamic group last night abandoned plans for an anti-war march through a town where processions for dead British soldiers are held as it was revealed that it would be banned within days.
Islam4UK provoked anger with a scheme to march through Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire, prompting MPs to urge local authorities and the Home Secretary to step in.
A statement from leader of the group Anjem Choudary said the group had 'successfully highlighted the plight of Muslims in Afghanistan'.
He went on: 'We at Islam4UK have decided, after consultation with others including our Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, that no more could be achieved even if a procession were to take place in Wootton Bassett and in light of this we would like to announce today that there will no longer be a procession through this market town.'
It emerged that Home Secretary Alan Johnson is to use anti-terror laws to ban two organisations run by Mr Choudary.
His group al-Muhajiroun and its offshoot Islam4UK are to be added to a list of 59 banned organisations which includes Al Qaeda and the IRA.
The move will make it a criminal offence, punishable by up to 10 years in jail, to be a member or attend meetings of either organisation or to raise funds for them.
Mr Choudary said: 'No sooner had I mentioned the desire (to march) Mr Brown condemned it and his Home Secretary Mr Johnson decided he would ban it and it seems now Islam4UK as well.'
And he later added: ‘I think Britain is living in a form of dictatorship - as long as you agree with what the ruling parties dictate, fine, but the rest of the people have to live with it. It's democracy, but only as long you agree with it.
‘I believe there are two types of people in the world - Muslims, and non-Muslims. And I believe Islam is superior.’
The organisation remained defiant and said it would continue to oppose the war in Afghanistan.
Mr Choudary said: 'We once again appeal to the British public and in particular the families and friends of soldiers who have died or are currently involved in Afghanistan to engage with us in an honest dialogue.
'There is common ground between us. Just as you grieve the deaths of your sons and daughters, we too grieve the deaths of thousands of ordinary Muslim men, women and children.'
Islam4UK denied that members had planned to carry 500 empty coffins through the town.
Unfortunately, sometimes democracy sucks. But in a true democracy you may have to listen to unpalatable opinions with gritted teeth, but you should never bring out laws to silence them if they do not incite violence or break any laws. You crush them with argument and debate.
I agree that this march should have been cancelled or banned for several reasons, but I do not agree with a total ban. In my opinion it is just the surrender of more liberties by the people, and who knows who will be banned next using the same formula.
We have already lost many of our liberties in the name of fighting terror and now stand at the bottom of a ladder that may take us to an entirely different level, I suggest we refrain from stepping on the first rung, as what is up there might be ten times worse than what we have now.
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