In July last year, a British teenager murdered three children and attempted to kill eight others along with the teacher of their dance class. The crime sparked outrage. There were riots in the streets and hostels were attacked, following false claims on social media that the teenager was an asylum-seeker. Politicians and social leaders scrambled to take measures to guard against it happening again.
The murderer was known to the authorities because of previous concerns raised about his attitudes and behaviour. But as he had no ideological agenda he was not considered a terror threat, and therefore was not under treatment or surveillance. Currently, only those with extreme Islamist or far right political views are considered terror threats by the UK government. The British Home Secretary ordered a review of counter-terrorism policy.
The review’s recommendations have been leaked, ahead of their publication. It recommends that the definition of extremism should no longer be based on ‘specific ideologies’, but it should be widened to include behaviours and activities generally which give reason to believe they could lead to violence. They include a fascination with violence (which was the case with the Southport killer), and also extreme environmental activism, misogyny, and believing conspiracy theories.
What do you think? On the spectrum of extremism, where do you stand?
Jesus Christ was an extremist and a radical. You only have to look at his teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, for instance (Matthew 5 to 7) to realise that. His followers, therefore, will also be extremists. They will believe, as he did, in such things as the historicity of the Bible (for example Matthew 19:4), Bible morality (for example Matthew 5:27-32), conscientious objection (for example John 18:36), and the coming Kingdom of God (for example Matthew 24:30).
The Home Office review was aimed specifically at identifying potential threats of violence. Jesus’ teaching of self-sacrifice (Luke 9:23) and unconditional love for your fellow human (Matthew 22:39) should mean that no true follower of his would ever be of any interest to the counter-terrorism authorities.
But in this increasingly scared and confused world, how ready would you be stand up and admit to being an extremist?
Chris Parkin
Photo credit: Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0