The British government seeks to define extremism to target the Muslim community and pro-Palestine advocacy organizations.
Speaking in parliament on Thursday, Communities Minister Michael Gove identified a number of Muslim organizations, which he said the government planned to “hold to account” using the new definition because of their “Islamic orientation.”
In an earlier statement, Gove said the definition had been updated to respond to an increase in “anti-Semitism.”
Gove said a surge in extremism since Israel launched its brutal aggression in Gaza posed “a real risk” to the UK.
He said the new definition would be used by government departments and officials to identify “extremist organizations, individuals and behaviors.”
Organisations or individuals added to the list will not be able to receive government or public funding.
There have been pro-Palestinian protests in cities across Britain since October 7, 2023, when Israel launched the brutal campaign in Gaza.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has repeatedly criticized the pro-Palestinian protests.
Civil liberties advocates, community groups and lawmakers have criticized the British government’s rhetoric on extremism.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), the largest body representing Muslims in the UK, described the plan as “undemocratic, divisive, and potentially illegal.”
“As the government presses ahead with its flawed proposals, many of us are questioning: on what grounds are these groups being labelled as extremist, and will there be legal avenues to challenge such determinations imposed by the government?” said Zara Mohammed, secretary-general of the MCB.
The Runnymede Trust, a race equality think tank, said the definition was an “attack on civil society.”
“It has bypassed parliamentary scrutiny and will likely shut down organizations supporting people of color, who are critical of the government of the day,” it said in a post on X.
“This definition governs what people are thinking, rather than doing, and will likely silence those who oppose the govt’s position, for example on pro-Palestinian marches and critical race theory. Muslim groups and orgs supporting people of color will be targeted as a result.”
Amnesty International said the definition was a “smash and grab on our human rights,” while Liberty called the definition “deeply cynical and completely unworkable.”
In a statement, the organizers of a series of national protests calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, said the definition was an “assault on core democratic freedoms.”
Meanwhile, a new campaign in the United Kingdom has been launched for people and businesses to no longer pay tax over complicity in Israel’s campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip.
