Cut off Islamist cash

Saudi Arabia has strongly disputed a study suggesting it is linked to extremism in the West through state or private funding of mosques and other institutions. A report from the Henry Jackson Society think tank says money from the desert kingdom is helping to promote the Wahhabi strain of Salafist Islam to which most terrorists subscribe.

The Saudis say the allegations are without foundation and “lack credible evidence”. Be that as it may, the UK is facing a terrorist threat of such severity, as has been seen in recent weeks, that it cannot afford to leave gaps in its defences.

This country has a good and strong relationship with Saudi Arabia which we would not choose to compromise. It is an important trade customer and a key security ally. But even if Saudi protestations are justified, the report does not single them out for blame. Other states in the region, such as Qatar and Iran, are said to sponsor extremist ideology, whether directly or indirectly. Even without “credible” corroboration there is enough anecdotal evidence to suggest a real problem has existed for years and it is time something was done about it.

There is no reason why mosques, imams or schools in this country should rely on foreign funding. France and Germany have responded to terrorist attacks by considering bans on foreign funding and Austria has implemented one. Here in the UK, it is unlawful for political parties to receive foreign funding. Given the far greater threat posed by ideologies that foment terrorism, the Government’s new counter-extremism commission should consider applying the same proscription to overseas cash for Islamist institutions in the UK.