The Proscribed Organisations (Name Changes) Order 2026
Specified three alternative names for previously proscribed organisations to ensure they are subject to the same legal restrictions as the names listed in the Terrorism Act 2000.
This Order specifies alternative names for certain organisations already listed as proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000.
It directs that 'The Islamic Thinkers Society' be treated as another name for Al-Ghurabaa and The Saved Sect, 'The Resistance Front' as another name for Lashkar e Tayyaba, and 'Babbar Khalsa International' as another name for Babbar Khalsa.
The Order applies to law enforcement and the judicial system by extending the legal consequences of proscription—such as criminal offences related to membership, support, and the wearing of clothing—to these additional names.
Arguments For
The order states that the Secretary of State believes the specified organisations are operating wholly or partly under names not currently listed in Schedule 2 to the Terrorism Act 2000.
Proponents argue that such orders ensure the proscription regime remains effective by preventing organisations from evading legal restrictions simply by adopting new aliases or using alternative names.
The document notes that exercising powers under section 3(6)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2000 allows the law to treat these alternative names as synonymous with the listed organisations for the purposes of enforcing sections 11 to 13 of the Act.
Arguments Against
Legal scholars have noted that the use of secondary names via executive order can create complexities in the burden of proof required to demonstrate an individual's membership in or support for a specific group.
Civil liberties organizations have previously raised concerns regarding the transparency of the evidence used by the Secretary of State to determine that one name is an alias of another organization.
Affected parties may argue that the breadth of the names specified could inadvertently capture individuals or activities associated with different groups that happen to share similar nomenclature.
Citation, commencement and extent
- —(1) This Order may be cited as the Proscribed Organisations (Name Changes) Order 2026 and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is laid before Parliament.
- (2) This Order extends to the United Kingdom.
This section establishes the official title of the legal instrument and sets its commencement date as July 7, 2026.
It further specifies that the provisions of the Order apply throughout the entire territory of the United Kingdom.
Name changes
- —(1) The names specified in sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph (2), being names not specified in Schedule 2 to the Terrorism Act 2000, are to be treated as other names for organisations listed in that Schedule as set out in those sub-paragraphs.
(2) Those names are—
- (a) The Islamic Thinkers Society which is to be treated as another name for both Al-Ghurabaa and The Saved Sect;
- (b) The Resistance Front which is to be treated as another name for Lashkar e Tayyaba;
- (c) Babbar Khalsa International which is to be treated as another name for Babbar Khalsa.
This section mandates that three specific names be legally recognized as aliases for organisations already banned under UK law.
It directs that 'The Islamic Thinkers Society', 'The Resistance Front', and 'Babbar Khalsa International' are subject to the same legal prohibitions as Al-Ghurabaa, The Saved Sect, Lashkar e Tayyaba, and Babbar Khalsa respectively.
This means that any statutory reference to the original organisations now includes these specified alternative names.
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