Written question asked by Marquess of Lothian (Conservative) on Tuesday, 17 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 March 2009. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 April 2009 on behalf of the Home Office.

Hezbollah

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to distinguish between the military and political wings of Hezbollah for the purposes of specifying proscribed organisations.

Answer: The elements of Hezbollah which meet the criteria for proscription under section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000 are listed in Schedule 2 to that Act. The relevant entry proscribes "the military wing of Hezbollah, including the Jihad Council and all units reporting to it (including the Hezbollah External Security Organisation)". Those parts of Hezbollah which do not fall within the Schedule 2 entry are not proscribed.The External Security Organisation (ESO) of Hezbollah was originally proscribed in 2001. In July 2008 this was extended to cover the entire military wing after evidence emerged of units not limited to the ESO being concerned in terrorism, particularly in the provision of training and support to militant groups in Iraq and other terrorist groups in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.In distinguishing between the political and military wings for the purposes of proscription, the Government's aim is to proscribe only those parts of Hezbollah which are directly concerned in terrorism, while recognising the legitimate political, social and humanitarian activities undertaken by other parts of Hezbollah.

Secondary information