Mark Rowley, Britain’s top counter-terrorism officer, has criticised technology and social media firms for their lack of commitment in countering the online terrorist threat. Isis’ recent emphasis on supporters carrying out ‘lone wolf attacks’ has made the phenomenon an increasing reality, and some Islamic communities are taking theological steps to counter this threat.
A January article from the Spectator discusses the emergence of two distinct Muslim cultures in Britain. Cohen writes of the reaction to St Stephen’s primary school in Newham banning the wearing of the headscarf for girls under the age of eight, drawing links to issues of Muslim engagement with public life and counter-extremism efforts in the UK.
The report examines women’s involvement with radicalisation and violent extremism in the EU, programmes in place to prevent and counter this, and the role of women themselves in these programmes.
The UK Government recently announced its Counter Extremism Strategy, a document which refers to ‘British values’ 54 times. Within this report, extremism is defined as ‘the vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.’ These are…
Islam4UK spokesman Anjem Choudary and Maajid Nawaz, from the counter-extremism think tank the Quilliam Foundation, join Newsnight’s Jeremy Paxman to debate the implications of a government ban on the radical Islamist group Islam4UK.
