A leaked draft counter-terrorism strategy known as "contest 2" which was intended to be unveiled next month proposes to reclassify people with radical points of view as 'extremists'. Featured among these proposals is the thought crime of holding the opinion that armed resistance anywhere in the world is legitimate. This would include the armed resistance by Palestinians and the Zapatistas.
The proposals [1] are predominantly aimed at Muslims, however it is clear that activists are to also be swept up in this dragnet. People would be considered extremists if:-
• They advocate a caliphate, a pan-Islamic state encompassing many countries.
• They promote Sharia law.
• They believe in jihad, or armed resistance, anywhere in the world. This would include armed resistance by Palestinians against the Israeli military.
• They argue that Islam bans homosexuality and that it is a sin against Allah.
• They fail to condemn the killing of British soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Although many left wing activists would disagree with these opinions, they are just that, opinions. This is a direct attack on freedom of speech, and a policy which will undoubtedly be used to intimidate and criminalise people who hold the view that people have a right to defend themselves from aggressive outside interference.
It is expected that such policy would play into the hands of the far right. It should be noted that there are no equivalent policies aimed at those who promote hatred and intolerance towards non-white people, promote virulent xenophobia, imperialism and wars to secure resources, and fail to condemn the killing of innocent people in foreign countries.
Clearly the state has been rattled by the numbers of people who came out to protest against the mass killings of men, women, and children in Gaza, and are looking to extend the reach of the 'war on terror' to counter resistance and bring Muslims and activists 'in to line' as they did post 9/11.
[1]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/feb/17/counterterrorism-strategy-muslims
• They advocate a caliphate, a pan-Islamic state encompassing many countries.
• They promote Sharia law.
• They believe in jihad, or armed resistance, anywhere in the world. This would include armed resistance by Palestinians against the Israeli military.
• They argue that Islam bans homosexuality and that it is a sin against Allah.
• They fail to condemn the killing of British soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Although many left wing activists would disagree with these opinions, they are just that, opinions. This is a direct attack on freedom of speech, and a policy which will undoubtedly be used to intimidate and criminalise people who hold the view that people have a right to defend themselves from aggressive outside interference.
It is expected that such policy would play into the hands of the far right. It should be noted that there are no equivalent policies aimed at those who promote hatred and intolerance towards non-white people, promote virulent xenophobia, imperialism and wars to secure resources, and fail to condemn the killing of innocent people in foreign countries.
Clearly the state has been rattled by the numbers of people who came out to protest against the mass killings of men, women, and children in Gaza, and are looking to extend the reach of the 'war on terror' to counter resistance and bring Muslims and activists 'in to line' as they did post 9/11.
[1]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/feb/17/counterterrorism-strategy-muslims
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