Michael Gove, the Communities Secretary, has identified far-right and Islamist organizations that are under scrutiny for extremism according to the government's new definition.
During a session in the House of Commons, Gove singled out the British National Socialist Movement and Patriotic Alternative groups from the far-right spectrum, along with the Muslim Association of Britain, Cage, and MEND representing Islamist orientations.
"We will be holding these, and other organizations, to account to assess if they meet our definition of extremism and will take action as appropriate," Gove told MPs.
Highlighting concerns about the ideologies propagated by these groups, Gove emphasized the need to address extremist activities without impeding freedom of expression, religion, or belief.
Acknowledging the growing concerns about the activities of far-right factions targeting Muslim and Jewish communities, Gove stressed the importance of assertive action.
However, Gove clarified in an interview that chanting the pro-Palestinian slogan "From The River To The Sea" on its own would not be considered extremist under the new definition. He emphasized that extremism is determined by an ideology, behavior patterns, and specific beliefs and actions.
Responding to concerns about the leaked information regarding these organizations, Gove assured that an inquiry was underway to investigate the matter.
Gove highlighted efforts by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities to address social cohesion issues in areas experiencing strain due to extremism, aiming to de-escalate tensions and provide constructive support.
Angela Rayner, the shadow communities secretary, emphasized the need for unity in combating radicalization and addressing the threats posed by extremist ideologies.
While praising the work of antisemitism advisor Lord Mann, Gove faced concerns from MPs across party lines regarding the scope of the extremism definition.
In a joint statement, several organizations, including Mend, Cage, Friends of Al Aqsa, 5Pillars, and the Muslim Association of Britain, expressed concerns about the potential threat to freedom of speech posed by the new extremism definition. They emphasized the importance of safeguarding the freedom to criticize the government without being labeled as extremists. Photo by UK Government, Wikimedia commons.