Britain's broken communities are sparking fears of a rise in extremism (Image: Getty)
Segregated communities and an “increasingly diluted and confused set of national values” are fuelling the risk of homegrown extremists, a leading expert has warned. Robin Simcox, the outgoing Commissioner for Countering Extremism, said different faiths and cultures failing “to mix” are creating “permissive environments” for radicalisation. And Mr Simcox warned politicians have not addressed the “failure of multiculturalism”, potentially creating chaos amid fears of increases in Islamist extremism and the growing far-Right.
There are also a new generation of “anti-blasphemy activists” operating in the UK, provoking fears of religious attacks.
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And he told an inquiry into new forms of extremism: “In my judgement, the existence of segregated communities throughout the country in which faiths and cultures fail to mix, in combination with an increasingly diluted and confused set of national values, contributes to the creation of permissive environments.
“This concept – that could broadly be considered the failure of multiculturalism – has been acknowledged by leaders across the world without requisite political action being taken to address the challenges.”
Mr Simcox told MPs extremist ideas and concepts “flourish” when they go “unchallenged”.
But he argued there is too much focus on the role the internet plays in radicalisation.
He said: “It is my view that the concept of ‘self-radicalisation’ solely from exposure to extremist material online can be overstated.
‘On the ground’ activism and recruitment can be where the most radical ideas are seeded, which can then be amplified or given greater structure or a coherent worldview online.
“Yet I have witnessed in recent years a tendency in government to focus on online factors rather than the hyper local. I have argued that the human dimension must never be overlooked, nor the ideas being promoted.”
Politicians are increasingly warning that “multiculturalism” has failed amid record levels of immigration and rising levels of crime.
Shadow Home Office minister Matt Vickers told the Sunday Express: “This is a warning we cannot ignore. A failure to integrate has permeated countless communities creating microcosms of parallel cultures with no reflection of a wider British society.
“Politicians have tiptoed around the problem, but the truth is we need a stronger spine on integration and an unapologetic defence of shared national values. If British values are diluted and cohesion collapses, unity will break down, giving way for extremism to quietly fester.”
Reform’s Sarah Pochin added: “The lack of support for our British history, culture and values by the Left, in parallel with their unashamed promotion of Islam, is enabling the growth of communities in this country with values quite different to our own.
“This is understandably fuelling resentment amongst the British people who only want to see the Union Jack flying on our public buildings, who want to be reassured the only language spoken in our schools in England is English, and to know that suppression of women will never be acceptable in this country.”
Mr Simcox also admitted he fears “blasphemy-inspired violence” could erupt on Britain’s streets after a spate of “flare ups”.
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He said: “At least three of these incidents are linked to a new generation of UK-based anti-blasphemy activists who are working to make blasphemy a key issue of concern for British Muslims.
“In three cases – Batley, Wakefield and the Koran burning – those accused of blasphemy are also reported to have received credible death threats warranting police attention.
“I commissioned academic research in 2021 to undertake research into whether, and if so how, anti-blasphemy narratives were being normalised in British Muslim communities.
“The report also provided a list of blasphemy-linked acts of terror and violence in Europe; and assessed the extent to which these pro-blasphemy narratives had crossover with those advanced by jihadists such as Osama bin Laden.
“I fear that the UK will also suffer a serious case of blasphemy-inspired violence in the years to come.”
A man who burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London was fined in a landmark case that sparked fears of blasphemy laws had been introduced in the UK.
Hamit Coskun, 50, shouted abusive comments about Islam as he held the flaming book aloft in Rutland Gardens in Knightsbridge on 13 February.
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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she believed the case should be appealed.
She added: "De facto blasphemy laws will set this country on the road to ruin.
"Freedom of belief, and freedom not to believe, are inalienable rights in Britain."
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