Tag: EXTREMISM

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‘Shocking Increase’ in Extremist Activity: Sunak Raises Alarm

Rishi Sunak

UK’s democracy is being deliberately undermined, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has warned in his address to the Nation from outside 10 Downing Street.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak came out heavily against the rising cases of ‘extremism’ in the United Kingdom and warned that while people have the right to march and protest ‘peacefully’, they can’t call for violence and extremism.

The UK Prime Minister said that a “shocking increase” has been noticed in extremist disruption and criminality in the recent weeks and months, and what started as protests on streets, has descended into “intimidation, threats, and planned acts of violence.”

“Jewish children fearful to wear their school uniform lest it reveal their identity. Muslim women abused in the street for the actions of a terrorist group they have no connection with. Now our democracy itself is a target,” Sunak said in his address to the Nation from outside 10 Downing Street.

He acknowledged that immigrants from different spheres of the world have come and integrated in the country without giving up on their identities.

“You can be a practising Hindu and a proud Briton as I am. Or a devout Muslim and a patriotic citizen as so many are. Or a committed Jewish person and the heart of your local community…and all underpinned by the tolerance of our established, Christian church,” Sunak said.

“But I fear that our great achievement in building the world’s most successful multi-ethnic, multi faith democracy is being deliberately undermined,” he said.

Sunak said that since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, many groups are trying to take advantage of the war to advance a divisive, hateful ideological agenda. Due to this, on many occasions, the UK streets were “hijacked” by “hostile groups.”

“Islamist extremists and far rights groups are spreading a poison, that poison is extremism,” he stated.

He further said that while people have the right to march and protest demanding protection fo civilian life, they can’t call for “violent Jihad”.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a statement from Downing Street. Picture by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

“I respect that the police have a tough job in policing the protests we have seen and that they are operationally independent. But we must draw a line. Yes, you can march and protest with passion…You can demand the protection of civilian life…but no, you cannot call for violent Jihad,” Sunak said.

He also cited the order by Home Secretary James Cleverly that the foreign nationals who are in UK on visas, if “spew hate on protests or seek to intimidate people”, their right to stay in the country will be revoked.

“I want to speak directly to those who choose to continue to protest: Don’t let the extremists hijack your marches. You have a chance in the coming weeks to show that you can protest decently, peacefully and with empathy for your fellow citizens,” Sunak further said. (ANI)

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Biggest victims of Islamist extremism are Muslims, says Faith Advisor

“The overwhelming thrust of the report is the people of faith and places of worship make an incredibly positive contribution to society,” Bloom told…reports Asian Lite News

The biggest victims of Islamist extremism are Muslims and the vast majority of the members of the community in the UK are friendly and decent people but they are being let down by a tiny minority who are causing problems, faith advisor of an independent review commissioned by the British government has said.

Colin Bloom, Independent Faith Advisor, said in an interview that there are more people in the UK who “have faith than not”, which is why the idea that faith is dying out and that people are less interested in religion or spiritual things is a myth. He said the situation in Britain is very different from what was about 50 years ago.

The review into faith engagement found the government needs to recognise faith groups as a force for good.

Colin Bloom considered how government can best celebrate the contribution of faith groups while tackling harmful practices.

More than 21,000 people responded to the public consultation and Bloom made 22 recommendations to the government on Wednesday.

“The overwhelming thrust of the report is the people of faith and places of worship make an incredibly positive contribution to society,” Bloom told.

Bloom described Islamist extremism and Islamist terrorism as the “biggest challenges”.

“I point out in the report that by far the biggest victims of Islamist extremism are Muslims and the vast majority of Muslims of the people in UK are kind, friendly, warm, decent people. But, they are being let down by a tiny minority who are causing these problems,” he said.

Bloom said the problem that a very small group of people are using aggressive tactics to try and encourage Sikhs in the United Kingdom on their pro-Khalistan agenda needs to be addressed and noted that the government should crack down on the extremist fringe elements.

“The problem with this is that there is the overwhelming majority of them, of the nicest kindest and most decent people in the UK. And, a tiny minority amongst them are very aggressive, very loud and not representative of the majority British-Sikh community,” he said.

India has raised the issue of security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the United Kingdom in the wake of action of some anti-India elements and has called for strong action by the UK Government.

Bloom hoped actions of such fringe elements do not damage bilateral ties between India and United Kingdom.

“I hope it doesn’t damage the relations between the UK and India. We have some of the strongest ties, a great deal of affection, and obviously, a shared history that goes back many hundreds of years,” Bloom said.

“I hope that continues, whether that’s with the British Hindu community, the British Sikh community, the British Muslim community, whoever it may be, we have to continue to build on those things that bind us together rather than would divide us,” he added. (ANI)

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Hate preachers now a ‘priority threat’ in UK

The decision comes after a review by the government’s extremism commissioner, Sara Khan, and the former head of counter-terrorism policing, Sir Mark Rowley, warned that many “hateful extremists” who are not carrying out terrorist activities are able to operate with “impunity,” the newspaper reported…reports Asian Lite News.

The UK government will treat hate preachers as a “priority threat” as concerns rise about a revival of Islamist terrorism, according to a media report.

Ministers are preparing to instruct counter-terrorism officials to monitor and “disrupt” the activities of those who “promote fear and division” without committing terrorist acts, British newspaper the Daily Telegraph has reported.

Terrorism.

The report, quoting a former counter-terrorism officials, said that the latest move could lead to officials and police attempting to prevent certain extremists from giving out material on the streets and holding large events, and challenging them when they speak in public, according to a report appeared in the Arab News.

The decision comes after a review by the government’s extremism commissioner, Sara Khan, and the former head of counter-terrorism policing, Sir Mark Rowley, warned that many “hateful extremists” who are not carrying out terrorist activities are able to operate with “impunity,” the newspaper reported.

It said that extremists were “creating a ‘chilling’ impact on freedom of expression,” and singled out Cage, an advocacy group whose “senior leaders have advocated supporting violent jihad overseas.”

The review accused the group of attempting to label efforts to counter extremism as Islamophobic.

However, the government is believed to have rejected a separate recommendation by the review that ministers should expand current criminal offenses relating to stirring up hatred, according to the report.

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