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| Review of counter-extremism strategy urged by committee | Review of counter-extremism strategy urged by committee |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The government should reconsider its strategy on fighting extremism because it risks making the situation worse, a parliamentary group has said. | The government should reconsider its strategy on fighting extremism because it risks making the situation worse, a parliamentary group has said. |
| The Joint Committee on Human Rights says ministers should bring in new laws only if there is found to be a "significant gap" in existing powers. | |
| Its report said an assumption there was a link between jihadism and religious conservatism was unproven. | Its report said an assumption there was a link between jihadism and religious conservatism was unproven. |
| Ministers were warned against driving a "wedge" between communities. | Ministers were warned against driving a "wedge" between communities. |
| The committee of MPs and peers also urged a review of the government's current Prevent counter-extremism strategy, which is designed to stop people from becoming radicalised. | |
| Plans for a Counter-Extremism Bill were first announced in 2015 and were included in the Queen's Speech in May but the committee says the proposals seem to have stalled or even gone backwards. | Plans for a Counter-Extremism Bill were first announced in 2015 and were included in the Queen's Speech in May but the committee says the proposals seem to have stalled or even gone backwards. |
| Undermining relationship | Undermining relationship |
| The report says there was agreement that tackling terrorism was a priority, but not on how to combat extremism. | |
| On proposed measures to tackle religious conservatism, the committee said these needed to be balanced with the right to freedom of speech. | On proposed measures to tackle religious conservatism, the committee said these needed to be balanced with the right to freedom of speech. |
| The government, it adds, should aim "to tackle extremism that leads to violence". | The government, it adds, should aim "to tackle extremism that leads to violence". |
| New legislation posed two problems, said the committee - "either it will focus on Muslims, be seen as discriminatory and drive a wedge between communities, or it would operate indiscriminately and could be used against any groups who espouse conservative religious views". | New legislation posed two problems, said the committee - "either it will focus on Muslims, be seen as discriminatory and drive a wedge between communities, or it would operate indiscriminately and could be used against any groups who espouse conservative religious views". |
| Committee chairwoman Harriet Harman added: "Would applying counter-extremism measures to specifically Islamic religious conservatism in the cause of tackling violence be acceptable discrimination or would it give rise to justified grievance? | |
| "The most precious asset in the fight against terrorism is the relationship between the authorities and the Muslim communities of this country. | "The most precious asset in the fight against terrorism is the relationship between the authorities and the Muslim communities of this country. |
| "We must guard against any undermining of the relationship between the authorities and Muslim communities, which would make the fight against terrorism even harder." | "We must guard against any undermining of the relationship between the authorities and Muslim communities, which would make the fight against terrorism even harder." |
| A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Extremism causes terrorism and broader social harms including hate crime, honour-based violence and discrimination. | A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Extremism causes terrorism and broader social harms including hate crime, honour-based violence and discrimination. |
| "That is why we published a counter-extremism strategy which confronts all forms of extremist ideology head-on, supports mainstream voices, and builds stronger and more cohesive communities. | "That is why we published a counter-extremism strategy which confronts all forms of extremist ideology head-on, supports mainstream voices, and builds stronger and more cohesive communities. |
| "This broad counter-extremism agenda is distinct and complementary to our Prevent programme which safeguards those who may be vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism. | |
| "Prevent is both challenging and vitally important work." |