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Review of counter-extremism strategy urged by committee Ministers 'struggle to define extremism'
(about 1 hour 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. The Joint Committee on Human Rights said there was currently no useable legal definition of extremism.
Its report said an assumption there was a link between jihadism and religious conservatism was unproven. In a report, it urged ministers to "tread carefully" when trying to define extremism as it risked undermining relations with Muslim communities.
Ministers were warned against driving a "wedge" between communities. A Home Office spokesman said preventing extremism was "vitally important".
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. Good relations with Muslim communities were the government's "most precious asset" in fighting terrorism inspired by so-called Islamic State, the committee said.
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. The group of MPs and peers stressed the need to have a clear distinction between extremism and religious conservatism.
Undermining relationship 'I'm not an extremist'
The report says there was agreement that tackling terrorism was a priority, but not on how to combat extremism. Committee chairwoman Harriet Harman told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government had previously said extremism includes "intolerance or not respecting the religious views or beliefs of others".
"But the difficulty with that is - again it's the definition - for example, I don't respect religions that regard women as subservient, I don't tolerate the views or beliefs of people who think that homosexuality is a sin, but I'm clearly not an extremist on the path to violence.
"To have draconian orders - breach of which is a criminal offence - without being able to describe the problem that you're trying to put these orders against, is a problem."
The committee 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 said the proposals seemed to have stalled or even gone backwards.
The report said 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 added, should aim "to tackle extremism that leads to violence".
'Drive a wedge'
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.
"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. "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."