The so called Counter-Extremism Bill will give the government draconian new powers to close down mosques, censor Muslims who speak up for the Ummah and slap banning orders on any Muslim activist, or group it claims goes against “British values”. With MPs due to vote on whether to pass the Bill this is our chance to stop these oppressive new laws and expose the real extremist: the neo-con Islamophobes trying to take away our rights and freedoms.

ACT NOW! Write to your MP and demand they oppose these laws.

Tell your MP how the proposed new ‘counter-extremism’ bill is:

Flawed: The government’s plans are based on the discredited ‘conveyor-belt’ theory of ‘radicalisation’ promoted by neo-conservative think-tanks, but contradicted by strong academic research evidence about the causes of violent extremism. These new measures continue the failed approach already seen with the much criticised and widely-hated ‘Prevent’ programme.

Dangerous: With the government’s very vague definition of “extremism”, ministers, officials and police will be able to play judge and jury, deciding who is guilty of “extremism” and have a wide scope to take away the rights and freedoms of citizens with no meaningful safeguards. As the Prime Minister openly admits, these laws will target law-abiding citizens because of their political and religious beliefs, raising widespread concerns that they will be used to shut down legitimate political dissent.

Draconian: The Bill puts in place the architecture of a Police State with alarming echoes of the oppressive policies of the Stasi State in Communist East Germany. The government is seeking powers to act against individuals and groups accused of opposing “British values”, introducing extensive new programmes of censorship, and placing a heavy emphasis on state-sponsored ideological propaganda.

Discriminatory: The government’s entire counter-extremism strategy targets Muslims by focusing almost exclusively on so-called “Islamist extremism”, while ignoring every other type of extremism, apart from tokenistic references to neo-Nazis. It is unsurprising that the strategy is opposed by grass-roots Muslim groups. The double-standards against Muslims are obvious. For example, the strategy cites the example of a YouTube video by a Muslim saying non-believers are worth “less than an ant” as the kind of extremism that will be targeted under the new powers. However, it ignores the much more prominent example of Sun columnist Katie Hopkins who compared refugees drowning in the Mediterranean to “cockroaches” and advocated using gun boats against them, instead of sending rescue boats.

Hypocritical: While claiming to defend “British values” such as “freedom of speech”, “tolerance” and “the rule of law”, the proposed new measures actually undermine these principles by restricting free speech, practicing discrimination by the state and by-passing due process and the right to a fair trial.

Counter-productive: Instead of countering violent extremism, these measures are likely to actually fuel radicalisation by further alienating vulnerable young Muslims according to a senior police officer and the independent counter-terror review.

Take 2 minutes to speak out against the government now (before you lose the right to do so).

And please share, share, share!

#StopTheExtremistBill   #NoPoliceState   #DefendFreeSpeech

Send MPACUK a copy of your email if possible and forward on any replies you receive to info@mpacuk.org. Insh’Allah we will be campaigning to hold to account those MPs who are for this bill. Watch this space…

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