Cameron’s plan to beat extremists
NEO-NAZISM, ISLAMIST ideology and other forms of antisemitism will be targeted by the government’s new antiextremism strategy.
TheCommunitySecurityTrust — which monitors Jew-hatred in Britain — submitted evidence to the government ahead of the policy’s publication on Monday.
David Cameron said the proposals targeted the threat of “extremism
David Cameron fromthosewhowanttodivideus.Wesee it in sickening displays of neo-Nazism, Islamophobia, antisemitism and, of course, Islamist extremism. “The fight against Islamist extremism is, I believe, one of the great struggles of our generation.”
The fight against online hatred and radicalisation will be a key focus. The government cited an internet video, viewed more than 3,000 times, which featured a right-wing extremist arguinginpublicthat Jews were behind “a conspiracy to alter the ethnic make-up of Britain”.
CST provided the government with written evidence of its experiences of recording hatred and warned that “antisemitic attitudes are widespread in European Muslim communities”.
The charity’s submission also highlighted the ability of extreme speakers to get round Home Office bans aimed at stopping them speaking in Britain.
The strategy acknowledged CST’s recording of the unprecedented rise in antisemitic incidents in the year up to February — a period that included three attacks registered as including “extreme violence”.
The government said universities and colleges would be “one of the most important arenas for challenging extremist views and ideologies”. Campusesandstudentunionshaveregularly hosted extreme speakers and caused concern to Jewish students.
Charities and schools linked to radicalisation will also be targeted, and broadcasters will be challenged to stop giving extremists a platform.
Extremist ideology will be countered bychallengingpropaganda,anti-extremist groups will increasingly co-operate in challenging hatred, extremists will be disrupted by anti-terror laws, and dif- ferent communities will be encouraged to work more closely together.
Home Secretary Theresa May said: “The rise of neo-Nazi groups and the increase in antisemitic and anti-Muslim hatred is deeply concerning.”
Mr Cameron also announced an extra £5 million to be given to anti-extremism groups to help them prevent “seed of hatred being planted in people’s minds”.
Mark Gardner, CST communications director, welcomed the proposals. He said CST would work with government tocombat“theextremismthatthreatens everybodyinoursociety,andthatposesa specific threat to Jewish communities”.