British citizens who dare to question mass migration are now being considered to be terrorists—at least according to the UK government’s anti-radicalization program, Prevent.
In a chilling move, Prevent’s online training course labels concerns about immigration, “cultural nationalism,” and even the belief that Western culture is under threat as “terrorist ideology” and signs of right-wing extremism.
Official guidance published on GOV.UK places these views under the banner of “Extreme right-wing terrorism,” redefining political dissent as a security threat.
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| Screenshot of new definition of terrorist ideology from gov.uk |
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| Cultural nationalism is a form of terrorism, according to the UK government |
Critics have warned the definition of ‘cultural nationalism’ is too broad and could even encompass the likes of Prime Minister Keir Starmer based on some of his public comments.
Daily Mail report: Lord Young, the general secretary of the Free Speech Union (FSU) said: ‘The definition in the training course expands the scope of suspicion to include individuals whose views are entirely lawful but politically controversial.
‘Now that ‘cultural nationalism’ has been classified as a subcategory of extreme Right-wing terrorist ideology, even mainstream, Right-of-centre beliefs risk being treated as ideologically suspect, despite falling well within the bounds of lawful expression.’
Lord Young added the definition could also capture Mr Jenrick, the former immigration minister, who warned ‘excessive, uncontrolled migration threatens to cannibalise the compassion of the British public’.
Prevent is one part of the government’s overall counter-terrorism strategy and is described as a multi-agency programme that ‘aims to stop individuals becoming terrorists’.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘Prevent is not about restricting debate or free speech, but about protecting those susceptible to radicalisation.’
Each year, thousands of teachers, police officers, health workers and other staff undergo Prevent training.
The programmes official ‘refresher awareness’ course states ‘cultural nationalism’ as one of the most common ‘sub-categories of extreme Right-wing terrorist ideologies’, alongside white supremacism and white/ethno-nationalism’.
The row comes despite a report by Sir William Shawcross, a former independent reviewer of Prevent, warning that mainstream literature and even Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg had been described as ‘cultural nationalists’.
Sir William recommended Prevent must be ‘consistent in the threshold that it applies across ideologies to ensure a proportionate and effective response’.
Among the programme’s other failures were its inability to identify people who went on to carry out terrorist attacks, according to Sir William.
Last month, retired police officer Julian Foulkes was arrested and detained for a social media post – with officials who searched his house describing his book collection as ‘very Brexity’.
Mr Foulkes subsequently received an apology and £20,000 compensation.
The FSU has said it has already worked to support members of Prevent like a 24-year-old autistic man whose social worker reporter he had been viewing ‘offensive and anti-trans’ websites and ‘focusing on lots of Right-wing dark comedy’.