UK Communities Secretary Michael Gove has revealed the government's new definition of “extremism” to the House of Commons amid heightened internal tensions since the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October.
The veteran Conservative Party politician said Thursday that the new definition seeks to address the rise of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism in Britain.
Gove, who days ago claimed that “good-hearted people” attending pro-Palestinian protests were “giving credence to extremists”, told MPs that the war in the Middle East was behind a “significant rise in extremism”.
Gove's statement to Parliament comes just four days after three former Conservative home secretaries – Priti Patel, Sajid Javid and Amber Rudd – signed a joint statement with others, including Neil Basu, the former counter-terrorism police chief, warning of risks of politicizing anti-terrorist policy. -measures of extremism”.
“We urge the Labor Party and the Conservative Party to work together to build a shared understanding of extremism and a strategy to prevent it that can stand the test of time, no matter which party wins the election,” their statement on Sunday read.
But Gove, who described Israel as “a light to the world” at a Conservative Friends of Israel event in 2017, remains under pressure to justify his new initiative as speculation mounts over whether Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will call a general election this spring. or will wait. his time until later in the year.
What is the new definition of 'extremism'?
According to the government, this new definition has been made more “precise,” so that individuals or groups who meet the new definition can be identified and essentially blacklisted. Its approach is ideological, unlike the last version written in 2011, which placed greater emphasis on acts of violence.
According to the new definition: “Extremism is the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, the aim of which is to deny or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others” or “to undermine, overthrow or replace the liberal system of government in the United Kingdom. parliamentary democracy and democratic rights”.
It also includes anything that would “intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve” any of the above goals.
The strategy is non-statutory, meaning groups would not be prosecuted simply for meeting the parameters of this new definition. Instead, those labeled as “extremists” by the government would no longer be eligible for government funding. Groups blacklisted under the new definition would also be banned from meeting ministers.
Can groups or individuals considered “extremist” be named?
Yes. A full list of those identified as “extremists” is expected to be published in the coming weeks. Gove told The Times on Thursday that people and organizations on the list would be identified by “academics, civil servants and ministers” who would “carefully consider the behavior of a person or group over a longer period before labeling them as extremists.”
However, on Thursday in parliament, Gove took the step of naming the neo-Nazi British National Socialist Movement, the far-right Patriotic Alternative, the Muslim Association of Britain, the Cage advocacy group and Muslim Engagement and Development as organizations with based in the United Kingdom. that they will be “held accountable to assess whether they meet our definition of extremism and [we] will take the appropriate measures.”
Of the two far-right groups, Gove said they “promote neo-Nazi ideology” and are “precisely the type of groups we should be concerned about”.
The British National Socialist Movement was founded in 1985 – it emerged from the former “British Movement” – and is known for its football hooligans and “white power” skinhead movements. Patriotic Alternative, founded in 2019, is the UK's largest “white nationalist” movement with branches across the country.
What has been the reaction to the new definition?
The archbishops of Canterbury and York, Justin Welby and Stephen Cottrell, said in a joint statement on Tuesday that the new definition “risks disproportionately targeting Muslim communities, which are already experiencing increasing levels of hate and abuse.”
A Muslim Conservative colleague, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, who has long urged her party to tackle Islamophobia among its members, said on X on Wednesday: “Michael Gove will not divide us in his ideological pursuit of a policy that has been rejected and criticized by the victims. of terrorism, the former Home Secretary and even the Archbishop of Canterbury.”
John Mann, the government's independent adviser on antisemitism, told the BBC: “I think the government needs to listen to people who warn that the policy of division will not work.” He said he should prioritize “bringing communities together.”
Cage, who campaigns on behalf of communities he says have been negatively affected by the West's “war on terrorism,” posted on . “We will explore all avenues, including legal ones, to resist the Government’s deep dive into authoritarianism.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign said in a statement on Thursday: “As a coalition of groups who have been organizing the national marches calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, we condemn Michael Gove's statement today. His redefinition of extremism, framed as a defense of democracy, is actually an attack on fundamental democratic freedoms, seeking to silence dissenting voices.”
The two far-right organizations named by Gove under parliamentary privilege did not immediately respond.
Is Gove's initiative an attempt to silence pro-Palestinian activists?
Some said yes. Chris Doyle, director of the London-based Council for Arab-British Understanding, told Al Jazeera that Gove's initiative is based on a Conservative government tactic that aims to “play culture wars” and “link the [pro-Palestinian] protests against extremism and anti-Semitism.”
He added: “It is [also aims] drag the Labor Party into this and challenge [its leader] Keir Starmer on whether the Labor Party agrees to these plans. If Labor does so, it will further divide the party. If he doesn't, Gove will accuse Labor of being soft on extremism. At the same time, it is a huge distraction from the real problem, which is the Israeli slaughter in Gaza.”
Indeed, some observers have suggested that Gove's move is simply the culmination of the ruling Conservatives' efforts to equate pro-Palestinian activism with “extremism.”
For example, just after the Israeli state launched its war on Gaza following the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7, then-UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman began labeling anti-war protests of Israel against Gaza, which has so far killed more than 31,000 Palestinians. , as “hate marches.”
And last month, Conservative MP Paul Scully faced criticism after claiming there were “no-go areas” for non-Muslims in parts of London and Birmingham. He later apologized for these comments.
A day after staunch pro-Palestinian activist George Galloway won the English parliamentary seat of Rochdale in a by-election on February 29, Sunak gave an impromptu speech outside his Downing Street residence, where he alleged that pro-Palestinian marches were a hotbed of protests. “intimidation, threats and planned acts of violence.”
What is Gove's history in fighting “extremism”?
The Scottish-born MP began defending his views on “extremism” 18 years ago when he published his book exploring the roots of “Islamism” in Britain, Celsius 7/7, in the wake of coordinated suicide attacks against the establishment. of London transport. on July 7, 2005.
Reviewing Gove's book for The Sunday Times in 2006, acclaimed Scottish historian William Dalrymple alleged that Celsius 7/7 was “riddled with… factual errors and misconceptions” and said Gove's work was viewed fatally undermined by the fact that he “never lived in the Middle East.” This … [and having] I barely set foot in a Muslim country.”
And in 2014, Gove – then education secretary – was accused of leading an “Islamophobic witch hunt” against schools in Birmingham, England.
Eight years later, a New York Times podcast on the issue alleged that Gove had ignored warnings that claims of an “Islamic extremist takeover” of Birmingham schools, known as the Trojan Horse affair, were “ false.”
