Cameron unveils new security goals
British PM’s plan to fight extremism at home and abroad
LONDON // Prime minister David Cameron yesterday set out a five-year strategy to tackle extremism in Britain and take on those responsible for radicalising young British Muslims. Mr Cameron outlined a counter- extremism strategy designed to halt the spread in Britain of the ideology promoted by the extremist group ISIL and tackle what he called the “struggle of our generation”.
He singled out internet companies as needing to do more to fight against extremism, especially among young people. “When it comes to doing what’s right for their businesses they’re happy to engineer technologies that track our likes and our dislikes,” he said.
“But when it comes to doing what’s right in the fight against terrorism we too often hear that it’s all too difficult – I’m sorry I just don’t buy that.” The speech came as Mr Cameron prepared to courting parliamentary approval to undertake anti-ISIL bombing missions in Syria. Britain currently conducts airstrikes only in neighbouring Iraq.
Britain’s national securi- ty threat level is at its second-highest setting, meaning an attack is highly likely. About 700 Britons are estimated to have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join ISIL, some of whom have since returned.
A key aim of the strategy, to be published in full later this year, will be to combat the rise of “home-grown” extremists.
“We have to confront a tragic truth: that there are people born and raised in this country who don’t really identify with Britain,” he said, adding that the ideologies espoused by ISIL needed to be “deglamourised”. Mr Cameron also sought to take direct action after a spate of cases involving young Britons leaving their families to link up with ISIL militants they had contacted through online social networks.
The government would introduce a scheme to enable worried parents to apply directly to get their child’s passport cancelled to prevent travel, he said. Mr Cameron said “strong, positive Muslim voices” were being drowned out by those who espoused ISIL’s extremist ideology, although stopping short of advocating violence.
He said he would also launch a review on how to improve social integration in ethnic minority communities.