Proscription by Proxy : The Banning of Foreign Groups

A proscription order was issued in 2017 under the UK’s Terrorism Act 2000 against two Bahraini groups (the al-Ashtar Brigades and the al-Mukhtar Brigades). The obscurity of these groups within the UK was underlined by the absence of triggers in terms of terrorist incidents or threats against British nationals. Yet, most recent proscriptions reflect this detached foreign provenance, giving rise to “proscription by proxy”—a ban in the interests of another state. Two aspects of the order serve as a worthy case study. One is the justification of the proxy policy. The other relates to the mechanics of proscription—the making of orders and subsequent review of their operation