Extremist ‘bullies’ threaten democracy

EXTREMISTS are bullying their critics into silence by subjecting them to horrific abuse, intimidation and even death threats, says Britain’s first counter-extremism commissioner.

In an article for The Sunday Tele

graph, Sara Khan said some of the worst examples of intimidation she had come across were against little-known individuals “brave enough” to challenge extremists’ “us versus them” narratives within their own communities.

She said the intimidatory tactics had been used by extremists from both Islamic backgrounds and the far-Right.

Of particular concern, she said, was the lack of support from government, local authorities or communities for those who stood up to extremists which, in some cases, had resulted in them being frightened into silence.

“I’ve spoken to those who have faced appalling online threats for standing up to the far-Right; and others who have suffered horrific abuse and intimidation for calling out Islamist extremists,” said Ms Khan. “Their plight is unrecognised and support, if any, is often non-existent. We owe these brave, often unknown, individuals a huge debt as well as better support, not just for the actions they’ve taken, but for not being cowed into silence.”

She revealed she had been sent rape and death threats. “I was once advised by police to take my children on a different route to school,” she said.

Some of the abuse was racist but from her own community. “As an Asian, Muslim woman I have had my fair share of racist and religious abuse – ‘Islamophobe’, ‘native informant’, ‘sell out,’” she said. “This intimidation ultimately seeks to silence the voice, views and daily business of people in our so- ciety. Make no mistake: this threatens the well-being of our democracy.”

Ms Khan, co-founder of Inspire, which counters extremism, was appointed by Theresa May to investigate the problem and draw up a strategy to combat it.

This spring her commission will publish the findings following a nationwide series of public meetings.

Amina Lone, who spoke out against children being forced to wear the hijab at school in Manchester, said her relatives had been contacted by hardline Islamists to tell her to stop. It was all the more “sinister” that they did not con- tact her directly. Ivan Humble joined the far-Right English Defence League (EDL), after becoming outraged by the hate preachings of Anjem Choudary. When, however, he befriended two Muslims, he started to discover a different Islam and quit EDL.

After posting a video about his experience that went viral, he faced abuse from people whom he had known for years as friends turned against him.

“I had my car damaged three times last year though I can’t prove it was anything to do with it,” he said.