THE Government’s recent definition of extremism is prone to “vilify the unsuitable people” by threatening freedom of speech and the precise to peaceful protest, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have warned.
In a joint statement published on Tuesday afternoon, Archbishops Welby and Cottrell said that the plan also “risks disproportionately targeting Muslim communities, who’re already experiencing rising levels of hate and abuse”.
Their statement pre-empts an announcement, expected on Thursday, through which the Communities Secretary, Michael Gove, plans to broaden the official definition of extremism to incorporate individuals and groups who “undermine the UK’s system of liberal democracy” — and ban them from public life.
The move, first leaked to The Observer last November, has been fiercely opposed by counter-terror and extremism experts, including three former Conservative Home Secretaries: Priti Patel, Sajid Javid, and Amber Rudd. They are among the many signatories of a joint statement, released over the weekend, which warns the Government to not politicise extremism.
Other signatories include Brendan Cox, the widower of Jo Cox MP; Neil Basu, a former head of counter-terrorism policing; and Lord Dannatt, a former Chief of the General Staff within the British Army.
The weekend statement says: “In the run-up to a General Election, it’s particularly vital that that consensus is maintained and that no political party uses the problem to hunt short-term tactical advantage. We urge the Labour Party and the Conservative Party to work together to construct a shared understanding of extremism and a technique to stop it that may stand the test of time, regardless of which party wins an election.”
In their very own statement, the Archbishops discuss with “growing division” between communities within the UK, including among the many faiths. “Many of our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters have spoken about feeling unsafe while simply walking down the road, or attending their places of labor and worship. These depressing developments not only undermine the cohesion of our society, but in addition threaten our country’s wealthy diversity that must be so highly prized in Twenty first-century Britain.”
They proceed: “How our leaders reply to this is way too vital for a recent definition of extremism to be its cure. Instead of providing clarity or striking a conciliatory tone, we predict labelling a multi-faceted problem as hateful extremism may as an alternative vilify the unsuitable people and risk yet more division.
“The recent definition being proposed not only inadvertently threatens freedom of speech but in addition the precise to worship and peaceful protest — things which have been hard won and form the material of a civilised society. Crucially, it risks disproportionately targeting Muslim communities, who’re already experiencing rising levels of hate and abuse.”
Archbishops Welby and Cottrell also express concern for public life, calling on the Government to reconsider its approach, “and as an alternative have a broad-based conversation with all those that it should affect”. The Church was willing to facilitate that conversation, they write.
“The UK has a proud history of welcoming people from all walks of life and celebrating diversity. We are a community of communities. Our leaders should cherish and promote that — and pursue policies that bring us together, not risk driving us apart.”
