A government initiative aimed at countering radicalization identifies “cultural nationalism” as a possible extremist ideology.
A UK government training document has classified concerns regarding large-scale immigration as an extremist ideology, potentially leading to intervention for “deradicalization.”
The Prevent program lists “far-right and extreme right-wing terrorism” as a significant threat. It highlights “cultural nationalism,” defined as the belief that “‘Western Culture’ is threatened by mass migration into Europe and a lack of integration by certain ethnic and cultural groups,” as a characteristic of this threat.
The advisory identifies signs of “cultural nationalism” as “the rejection of… practices such as wearing the burqa or the perceived rise of sharia law.” It also expresses concern about “White Nationalism,” which posits that a “‘White’ homeland” faces an “existential threat” due to demographic shifts.
The Prevent strategy, part of the training given to teachers, police, and health workers, aims to detect early signs of radicalization and intervene before individuals engage in terrorism. It operates under the premise that “there is no socio-demographic profile of a terrorist in the UK, and no single pathway or ‘conveyor belt’, leading to terrorism.”
The course has sparked public criticism. Former Prime Minister Liz Truss stated that “most Britons would agree” that Western culture is under threat. She also wrote on X that “We have a deep state that is working against the people. The Prevent program should be cancelled.”
Lord Young of Acton, of the Free Speech Union, cautioned that Prevent is targeting people “whose views are entirely lawful but politically controversial.” He wrote to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper that “Even mainstream, right-of-center beliefs risk being treated as ideologically suspect.”
A Home Office spokesperson defended the program, stating: “Prevent is not about restricting debate or free speech, but about protecting those susceptible to radicalization.”
The UK has faced ongoing domestic security challenges. In May, Ilyas Akhtar, 20, was charged with terrorism-related offenses in Slough for arson and a bomb hoax targeting a supermarket.
Last October, Axel Rudakubana, 18, the son of Rwandan immigrants, was charged with murdering three young girls and injuring ten others, mainly children, in Southport, North West England. According to the Daily Telegraph, he had been referred to the Prevent program multiple times before the attack.
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