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Cameron unveils strategy to beat Islamist extremism Cameron unveils strategy to beat Islamist extremism
(about 1 hour later)
David Cameron has set out the government's strategy to defeat the "poison" of Islamist extremism.David Cameron has set out the government's strategy to defeat the "poison" of Islamist extremism.
He pledged to tackle extremist ideology and "the failures of integration" which he said had led to hundreds of Britons joining Islamic State (IS) militants.He pledged to tackle extremist ideology and "the failures of integration" which he said had led to hundreds of Britons joining Islamic State (IS) militants.
Among a number of proposals, the PM promised to allow parents to have their children's passports cancelled if they feared they were at risk.Among a number of proposals, the PM promised to allow parents to have their children's passports cancelled if they feared they were at risk.
He also pledged to look at social housing to prevent further segregation.He also pledged to look at social housing to prevent further segregation.
'Sick world view'
In a speech in Birmingham on the government's five-year plan to defeat home-grown extremism, Mr Cameron set out four major issues - countering the "warped" extremist ideology, the process of radicalisation, the "drowning out" of moderate Muslim voices, and the "identity crisis" among some British-born Muslims.In a speech in Birmingham on the government's five-year plan to defeat home-grown extremism, Mr Cameron set out four major issues - countering the "warped" extremist ideology, the process of radicalisation, the "drowning out" of moderate Muslim voices, and the "identity crisis" among some British-born Muslims.
He talked about Britain as a "multi-racial, multi-faith democracy" and as a "beacon to the world". He said no-one should be demonised and moderate Muslims also hated the "sick world view" of extremists. He said the focus of his speech was Islamist extremism - not Islam the religion - and that moderate Muslims also hated the "sick world view" of extremists.
"I want to work with you to defeat this poison," he said."I want to work with you to defeat this poison," he said.
He said the government's strategy included plans to:He said the government's strategy included plans to:
Mr Cameron said: "This is how I believe we can win the struggle of our generation. He spoke about a lack of confidence when it came to enforcing British values, referring specifically to forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
"Countering the extremist ideology; standing up and promoting our shared British values; taking on extremism in all its forms, both violent and non-violent; empowering those moderate and reforming voices who speak for the vast majority of Muslims that want to reclaim their religion; and addressing the identity crisis that some young people feel by bringing our communities together and extending opportunity for all."
He also spoke about a lack of confidence when it came to enforcing British values, referring specifically to forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
"No more turning a blind eye on the basis of cultural sensitivities," he said."No more turning a blind eye on the basis of cultural sensitivities," he said.
He said the UK needed to "de-glamorise" the extremist ideology and conspiracy theories used by groups such as IS, also known as Isil.He said the UK needed to "de-glamorise" the extremist ideology and conspiracy theories used by groups such as IS, also known as Isil.
"This is a group that throws people off buildings, that burns them alive... This isn't a pioneering movement, it is a vicious, brutal and fundamentally abhorrent existence," he said."This is a group that throws people off buildings, that burns them alive... This isn't a pioneering movement, it is a vicious, brutal and fundamentally abhorrent existence," he said.
'Really offensive'
BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said giving worried parents the power to have their children's passports removed was a concrete step.BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said giving worried parents the power to have their children's passports removed was a concrete step.
At present, children can be made a ward of court and then the local authority can prevent them travelling, or parents can go to the police who could act in certain circumstances, he said.At present, children can be made a ward of court and then the local authority can prevent them travelling, or parents can go to the police who could act in certain circumstances, he said.
Our correspondent said the emphasis of Mr Cameron's speech was on the "battle of ideas" but added it could be about 10 years too late.Our correspondent said the emphasis of Mr Cameron's speech was on the "battle of ideas" but added it could be about 10 years too late.
"The government doesn't have to convince well-integrated young people that Britain is a good democracy, a place of great opportunities where they can practice their religion freely," our correspondent said. "The people they have to persuade are the young people who are already, to a degree, lost - and that is a big challenge for the government," our correspondent said.
"The people they have to persuade are the young people who are already, to a degree, lost - and that is a big challenge for the government."
Tracking Britain's jihadistsTracking Britain's jihadists
The stories of those who have died, been convicted of offences relating to the Islamic State conflict or are still in Syria or Iraq.The stories of those who have died, been convicted of offences relating to the Islamic State conflict or are still in Syria or Iraq.
Mr Cameron said it was not enough for extremists to say they opposed IS. Mr Cameron said it was not enough for groups to say they opposed IS.
This would be setting the bar for acceptability "ludicrously low", and groups should be expected also to condemn conspiracy theories, anti-Semitism and sectarianism, he said.This would be setting the bar for acceptability "ludicrously low", and groups should be expected also to condemn conspiracy theories, anti-Semitism and sectarianism, he said.
"We need to put out of action the key extremist influencers who are careful to operate just inside the law but who clearly detest British society and everything we stand for," he said."We need to put out of action the key extremist influencers who are careful to operate just inside the law but who clearly detest British society and everything we stand for," he said.
Mr Cameron attacked the National Union of Students for "allying itself" with the advocacy group Cage, one of whose officials earlier this year described the IS militant nicknamed Jihadi John as a "beautiful young man". While welcoming aspects of the speech, the Ramadhan Foundation rejected Mr Cameron's use of the term "grievance justification", whereby he said some people blamed the rise of extremism on "historic injustices, recent wars, poverty and hardship".
But the NUS has responded by saying it would not work with Cage "in any capacity". Chief Executive Mohammed Shafiq said the PM's idea that "somehow we're saying foreign policy is an excuse is really offensive".
"If this is the way he wants to engage with the community in the battle against terrorism then he's going to fail," he said.
"He should be talking to a diverse range of organisations, and he's not doing that."
'Litmus tests'
Dr Shuja Shafi, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said it agreed with the prime minister that Islamic State's causes must be de-glamorised.
"We worry, however, that these latest suggestions will set new litmus tests which may brand us all as extremists, even though we uphold and celebrate the rule of law, democracy and rights for all," he said.
"Dissenting is a proud tradition of ours that must not be driven underground."
In his speech, Mr Cameron attacked the National Union of Students for "allying itself" with the advocacy group Cage, one of whose officials earlier this year described the IS militant nicknamed Jihadi John as a "beautiful young man".
But the NUS responded by saying it would not work with Cage "in any capacity".
The government is expected to set out a wider counter-extremism strategy later this year which will include more legislation.The government is expected to set out a wider counter-extremism strategy later this year which will include more legislation.
Police and security services believe at least 700 extremists have travelled to fight with IS militants who have taken control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria, with half since returned and posing a domestic terror threat.Police and security services believe at least 700 extremists have travelled to fight with IS militants who have taken control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria, with half since returned and posing a domestic terror threat.
Talha Asmal, 17, from Dewsbury, is believed to have become Britain's youngest ever suicide bomber when he reportedly blew himself up in Iraq last month.
Mr Cameron has suggested he could soon seek Parliament's approval to extend UK military air strikes from Iraq into Syria, telling a US television network he wanted Britain to "step up and do more" to "destroy this caliphate".