The UK Government has unveiled its new definition of extremism, amid rising concerns about threats to social cohesion and British democracy.
Groups covered by the new definition, which is designed to include conducts that falls short of criminality, but is still deemed “unacceptable”, will be denied access to government funding and prevented from meeting Ministers and officials or gaining a platform that could “legitimise” them through association with the government.
The definition describes extremism as “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance” that aims to “negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others” or “undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights”.
It also includes those who “intentionally create a permissible environment for others to achieve” either of those aims.
The previous definition, published in 2011, described extremism as “vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and belief” as well as “calls for the death of members of our armed forces
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Groups on the list will only be able to appeal against their inclusion by launching a judicial review in the High Court.
But, the prospect of redefining extremism has also raised concerns that too broad a definition could threaten freedom of speech, worship and protest.
A report quotes that the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued a warning that the new definition could “vilify the wrong people and risk yet more division” instead of “providing clarity or striking a conciliatory tone”.
The Muslim Council of Britain also attacked the proposals as “flawed”, warning that they were “undemocratic, divisive, and potentially illegal” and “may involve defining established Muslim organisations as extremist”.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
