20 July 2015

David Cameron extremism speech: Muslim leaders give their views on the PM's plans

I am concerned that yet again Cameron is conflating the issue of extremism and terrorism with those of cohesion and integration.

He says that Muslims are not doing enough to integrate and that risks fostering extremism – but just what is enough and how do you measure it?

There is also a contradiction between Mr Cameron extolling British values such as free speech and then suggesting that Muslims who object to gay equality are somehow extremist and their views should not be tolerated.

.... The worry is that the focus is on ideology as the primary cause of terrorism and radicalisation and that does not seem to tie very well with the academic research that seems to suggest that, in actual fact, the causes of terrorism are multifaceted.

There is a risk of over-simplifying the issue. [The Independent] Read more