Theresa May says the “whole spectrum of extremism” must be tackled, despite a widespread outcry over the threat to free speech.
Speaking in the USA, the Prime Minister said it was not enough “to focus on violent extremism”.
However, The Christian Institute said the focus on non-violent extremism posed huge dangers for free speech.
Ideology
Theresa May was speaking to the Republican Party conference on Thursday when she addressed the issue of extremism.
She said not only did terrorists themselves need to be defeated, but their ideology also needed to be eradicated.
“That is why the UK has led the world in developing a strategy for preventing violent extremism”, she said.
No other democracy
But, she added, it was “not enough” to just consider violent extremism: “We need to address the whole spectrum of extremism starting with the bigotry and hatred that can so often turn to violence.”
The Christian Institute, the National Secular Society and many other groups have consistently spoken out against the Government’s extremism plans, saying they threaten free speech.
Colin Hart, Director of The Christian Institute, responded to the Prime Minister’s comments: “Theresa May is sadly right about ‘leading the way’ in tackling extremism.
“She is taking this country down a path not ventured by any other modern democracy.
Heroes
“Only the UK is seriously looking at legislating against ‘non-violent extremists’.
“Many people we would now consider heroes – Martin Luther King, William Wilberforce, Rosa Parks and others – were vilified as extremists in their day, yet they were committed to non-violence.”
