Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Traffic halted in Ben Gurion following launch of Yemeni missile
Israeli media: Sirens sound in al-Quds, surrounding areas.
Al-Qassam Brigades: Our fighters spotted enemy helicopters landing to evacuate their troops and swiftly carried out a coordinated operation against the occupying forces entrenched in a house in al-Qarara
Al-Qassam Brigades: We detonated a tunnel entrance where several enemy soldiers had gathered in the town of al-Qarara and engaged them with light weapons
Al-Qassam Brigades: We struck an enemy force, causing casualties and injuries, by detonating a heavy explosive device in a house in the town of al-Qarara, south of the Gaza Strip
Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari, Commander of Iran’s Army Ground Forces, warned: Any act of aggression against Iran will result in the destruction of its origin and perpetrators
Speaking at a ceremony honoring war veterans, Salami declared: We will stand resolutely against the enemy
IRGC Commander, Major General Hossein Salami: We do not accept humiliation, nor do we believe in submission
Government Media Office in Gaza: So far, 7 bodies have been recovered, while two remain under the rubble, in a scene that epitomizes genocide.
Government Media Office in Gaza: 9 children from one family were killed in an Israeli massacre against the "Al-Najjar" family in Khan Yunis.

UK adds new definition to 'extremism', raises alarms on free speech

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: New York Times
  • 14 Mar 2024 22:24
4 Min Read

Advocacy groups and legal experts warn that the rights of many will be affected, and the only route to challenge this would be through court. 

  • x
  • Michael Gove, Britain's Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. (AP)
    Michael Gove, Britain's Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. (AP)

The UK has introduced a new definition of extremism as confirmed by senior cabinet minister, Michael Gove, who said the move was intended to “protect democratic values” by being “clear and precise in identifying the dangers posed by extremism.”

However, some advocacy groups and legal experts warn that the rights of many will be affected, and the only route to challenge this would be through court. 

Criticism arose from rights groups alongside concern from three former Conservative Party home secretaries, who said that the introduction of this definition was for political gain.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who is the head of the church and a peer in the House of Lords, and the archbishop of York released a statement that the definition “not only inadvertently threatens freedom of speech, but also the right to worship and peaceful protest, things that have been hard won and form the fabric of a civilized society.”

“Crucially, it risks disproportionately targeting Muslim communities, who are already experiencing rising levels of hate and abuse," they added.

UK to 'broaden' definition of extremism amid pro-Palestine rallies

The #UK is attempting to redefine extremism amid pro-#Palestine rallies in #London, marking a path toward the silencing of any dissent against its official government narrative. https://t.co/dNazRmJBM9

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 5, 2023

Branding and banning

Extremism will be defined as “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance... [to] negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or undermine, overturn or replace the U.K.’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights” or intentionally establish a “permissive environment” for others to do so.

But after publishing the new definition, it added, “The government will undertake a robust process to assess groups for extremism against the definition, which will then inform decisions around government engagement and funding.”

Critics said it was the idea of the government having the power to deem someone extremist that threatens free speech and civil liberties.

Related News

Fears of extremism in US military rise as soldier linked to Neo-Nazism

Veterans tied to New Year's attacks spark extremism concerns

Senior lawyer and former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation for the government, David Anderson, relayed to the BBC that “the definition remains extremely broad... for example, it catches people who advance an ideology which negates the fundamental rights of others. One can imagine both sides of the trans debate leaping on that one.”

Anderson also expressed, “I think you are also affecting a lot of people potentially by branding them as extremists,” noting that it “affects potentially the freedoms and reputations of an awful lot of people.”

Read more: UK Met police to be 'absolutely ruthless' with pro-Palestine rallies

Amnesty International’s chief executive, Sacha Deshmukh, saw the move as a “dangerously sweeping approach to labeling groups and individuals ‘extremist’” and that it's “another smash and grab” on human rights.

“This attempt to stigmatize legitimate, peaceful political activity is taking us further down the road toward authoritarianism,” he continued.

Another day, another excuse

Gove said that “the pervasiveness of extremist ideologies has become increasingly clear in the aftermath of the 7 October attacks and poses a real risk to the security of our citizens and our democracy.”

He blamed "right-wing and Islamist extremists who are seeking to separate Muslims from the rest of society and create division within Muslim communities.”

The new definition updates the defined term 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 beliefs.” Calling for the death of members of the armed forces was also part of it.

Miriam Cates, a Conservative Party lawmaker, conveyed to The Times of London her belief that radical Islamism is the most significant threat to the UK's national security but stated that it should be addressed “by properly upholding our existing laws and proscribing groups that have links to terrorism.”

“In a pluralistic democracy, there are, of course, a wide range of opinions that many of us would consider extreme,” she said. “But the state should only intervene if there is an actual threat of physical harm. Otherwise, we erode our fundamental freedoms of speech, association, expression, and religion.” 

The government tried to tackle the situation by saying that it is “not about silencing those with private and peaceful beliefs — not will it affect free speech, which will always be protected.”

The government is expected to announce a new set of groups it deems extremist in the coming weeks.

  • Extremism
  • Free Speech
  • Michael Gove
  • United Kingdom

Most Read

Rachel Accurso criticized for speaking out on Gaza children crisis

Ms. Rachel accused of antisemitism for speaking out for Gaza children

  • Politics
  • 20 May 2025
Martyrs, injuries in violent Israeli bombardment of southern Gaza

Israeli operation fails; IOF launch violent strikes on Gaza

  • Politics
  • 19 May 2025
The spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, giving a statement on Friday, April 11, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces declare Haifa Port under naval siege

  • Politics
  • 20 May 2025
Although the background information does not indicate direct US involvement, considering the broader geopolitical context, it is plausible that the US would have an indirect impact. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

Did 'Israel', US fight a proxy war with China in South Asia during the India-Pakistan escalation?

  • Feature
  • 19 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
President Donald Trump, left, departs with U.S. Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steven W. Gilland after speaking to United States Military Academy graduating cadets during commencement ceremonies in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Trump: US Army not for imposing democracy or culture abroad

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Yad LaBanim Memorial in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, on April 29, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu Shin Bet pick opposed prisoner swap deal, stirring outrage

Palestinians struggle to receive cooked food distributed at a community kitchen in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP)
Politics

UN refuses to cooperate with 'Israel', US firms in Gaza aid scheme

A woman displaying a portrait of martyred Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, shows her ink-stained thumb after casting her vote at a polling station during municipal elections in the town of Nabatieh, south Lebanon, Saturday, May 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Lebanon concludes municipal elections amid Israeli strikes on south

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS