UK officials to be banned from contact with groups listed as 'extremist'

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - British government ministers and other officials will be banned from funding or meeting with "extremist" groups, as the government has updated its definition of extremism, according to an official statement on Thursday.

The controversial move, which has already met a backlash over the risk of disproportionately targeting Muslim communities, was announced by Communities Secretary Michael Gove as part of a government move to address an "increased extremist threat" in the country since Oct. 7, when the current conflict began in the Gaza Strip.

It will be used "to ensure they are not inadvertently providing a platform, funding or legitimacy to groups or individuals who attempt to advance extremist ideologies that negate our fundamental rights and freedoms and overturn the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy," the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said in a statement.

It will apply to, but not criminalize, certain groups that promote an ideology based on "violence, hatred or intolerance," said the department.

Many individuals and groups have criticized the new move.

In a joint statement earlier this week, Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, and Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, said that it risks "disproportionately targeting Muslim communities, who are already experiencing rising levels of hate and abuse."

"The new definition being proposed not only inadvertently threatens freedom of speech, but also the right to worship and peaceful protest – things that have been hard won and form the fabric of a civilized society," added the statement.

It came after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in an address at Downing Street earlier this month that there were "forces here at home trying to tear us apart.”

"On too many occasions recently, our streets have been hijacked by small groups who are hostile to our values and have no respect for our democratic traditions," he said, pointing the finger at pro-Palestine rallies held since last Oct. 7 to call for a cease-fire in Gaza.

- Several Muslim groups called ‘divisive’

Although it is not known which groups the government proposes labeling as extremist, a draft version of Gove’s ministerial statement, seen by The Guardian daily, mentions several Muslim groups, including Muslim Engagement and Development MEND, CAGE, Friends of Al Aqsa, 5Pillars, and the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), as "divisive forces within Muslim communities."

The document also says there is "serious concern" about the British National Socialist Movement, Patriotic Alternative, and Britain First for intimidating minority groups.

Under the new definition, extremism is "the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance," that "aims to negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others or undermine, overturn; or replace the UK's system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights; or intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the results in (1) or (2)."

The previous definition, from 2011, described extremism as "vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and belief."

According to the government, the new definition is "narrower and more precise" and will help "clearly articulate" how extremism is "evidenced" in actions.

"In order to protect our democratic values, it is important both to reinforce what we have in common and to be clear and precise in identifying the dangers posed by extremism," Gove said in the statement.

"The pervasiveness of extremist ideologies" has become increasingly clear following the Oct. 7 attack and "poses a real risk to the security of our citizens and our democracy," he added.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas which killed around 1,200 people.

More than 31,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza and over 73,000 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities under a crippling blockade.