[News] New government counter-extremism strategy

• Anyone with a conviction or civil order for extremist activity will also be automatically barred from working with children and vulnerable people

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JC Footy Genius said:

The home secretary has vowed to "systematically confront and challenge extremist ideology" as she detailed new curbs on those who "spread hate".

Measures within the counter-extremism strategy are:

• A full review of public institutions such as schools, further and higher education colleges, local authorities, the NHS and the civil service to ensure they are protected from "entryism" - or infiltration - by extremists
• An official investigation into the application of Sharia law in the UK
• Extremism disruption orders to stop individuals engaging in extremist behaviour
• Closure orders for law enforcement and local authorities to close down premises used to support extremism
• Tougher powers for broadcasting regulator Ofcom so action can be taken against radio and television channels showing extremist content
• Demands that internet service providers do more to remove extremist material and identify those responsible for it
• Anyone with a conviction or civil order for extremist activity will also be automatically barred from working with children and vulnerable people

The Muslim Council of Britain has released a highly-critical statement in response to the plans.
Secretary general Dr Shuja Shafi said the strategy would "reinforce perceptions that all aspects of Muslim life must undergo a 'compliance' test to prove our loyalty to this country".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34568574

Good ideas about bloody time ? or Pandering to prejudice/intolerance ? or Rhetoric/gimmicks unlikely to make a difference ?

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JC Footy Genius said:

The Muslim Council of Britain has released a highly-critical statement in response to the plans. Secretary general Dr Shuja Shafi said the strategy would "reinforce perceptions that all aspects of Muslim life must undergo a 'compliance' test to prove our loyalty to this country".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34568574

Good ideas about bloody time ? or Pandering to prejudice/intolerance ? or Rhetoric/gimmicks unlikely to make a difference ?

Click to expand...

surrey jim said:

Does this mean that someone with a conviction for terrorism related activities could have passed their CRB check before now?

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GT49er said:

No great fan of the current Home Secretary, but in this instance I go for the 'About bloody time' option. Dr. Shuja Shafi has done the Muslim community no service by his misplaced remarks - it is their kids that this legislation is aimed at, trying to save them from throwing their lives away, and ruining others' lives.

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studio150 said:

Dr Shafi also said he detected "McCarthyist undertones" in the plans to create blacklists and exclude and ban people those deemed to be extremists.

While those that support and join IS would have extreme views, it is those that hold views that the majority do not share that must be protected, otherwise there is a danger of a witchhunt, with perhaps many being ordered to attend classes to have these views removed and replaced with mainstream views.

We must retain the right to free speech with the ability to challenge and hold different views to those in power. Will these new powers be over used by the Police much as the Terror laws are from time to time, to target certain groups. If you look back over time, would those that marched for CND have been classified as holding extreme views because they wanted to remove nuclear arms.

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