A threat to free speech?
Anti-extremism measure ‘could snare feminists and Christians’
‘This will be used to silence dissent’
MICHAEL Gove faced a backlash k- over his anti- extremism m measures yesterday amid id warnings they could have a chilling effect on free speech.
The Communities Secretary was as told a new official definition of extremism may jeopardise those se with ‘perfectly legitimate’ views.
Under Mr Gove’s measures, s , organisations which meet the definition on – even if they are non-violent – will be banned from receiving taxpayers’ rs’ money and from contact with ministers ishe or senior civil servants.
In the Commons Mr Gove used the protections of parliamentary debate to name five groups which would be ‘held ld to account’ under the measures.
They were two extreme Right-wing ng organisations – the British National l Socialist Movement and Patriotic Alternative – and three which Mr Gove said were Islamist in nature: the Muslim Association of Britain, CAGE and MEND. Mr Gove said: ‘We will be holding these and other organisations to account to assess if they meet our definition of extremism, and will take action as appropriate.’
But one Conservative MP said gender critical feminists – who believe biological sex cannot be changed – would be snared by part of the definition which deems it extreme to ‘negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others’.
Miriam Cates told the Commons: ‘In separating the definition of extremism from actual violence and harm and using terms like “fundamental rights” which don’t have a definition in law we risk criminalising — or at the very least chilling — speech of people who have perfectly legitimate, harmless views.
‘Gender critical feminists might be intolerant of the rights of people to change their sex on their birth certificates, they might be seeking to undermine that right by seeking to appeal the Gender Recognition Act, for example.
‘They will be labelled extremists under these regulations as I can see it.’
Meanwhile, Maya Forstater, executive director of campaign group Sex Matters, said: ‘This will be used to silence dissent. Everyone should be concerned about that.’
Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said: ‘This new definition of extremism is not fit for purpose.
‘It is absurd that Christians could be deemed “extremist” for believing in real marriage or for being pro-life.’
Mr Gove said: ‘Our definition will not affect gender critical campaigners, those with conservative religious beliefs, trans activists, environmental protest groups, or those exercising their proper right to free speech.
‘The Government is taking every possible precaution to strike a balance, in drawing up the new definition, between protecting fundamental rights and safeguarding citizens.’
He said the definition would ‘apply only to government’ so that organisations deemed extremist ‘can’t benefit from access to government and its funds’.