Extremism Disruption Orders (EDOs) news | Defend Free Speech

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12th July 2018

I’ve been travelling around the country talking to people about extremism – here’s what I found

Head of the Commission for Countering Extremism, Sara Khan, shares her thoughts.

10th July 2018

Human Rights committee concerned over Counter Terrorism and Border Security Bill

The Joint Committee on Human Rights says it has “serious concerns” with the new powers the government is proposing in the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Bill currently going through parliament.

29th June 2018

Free speech poll: Who should be ‘no platformed’?

Almost 1 in 4 would no platform republicans, poll finds.

11th June 2018

Our response to terrorism is balanced, not Orwellian

The updated counter-terrorism strategy will be debated and scrutinised in parliament, and I strongly reject the idea that it ‘criminalises thought’

It’s only a matter of time before anyone who has the temerity to criticise same-sex marriage, for instance, will be accused of a hate crime under the EDOs.

Andrew Pierce

Assistant Editor, The Daily Mail

Obeying the law will no longer be enough to guarantee you are able to live peacefully in the UK without harassment from the state.

The Mirror

Just what, in the government’s view, is an extremist?

Melanie Phillips

The Times

True, the proposed definition of extremist views is intended to stop radical Islamist preachers influencing a new generation of potential terrorists, but it is so widely drawn that it will inevitably ensnare the wrong people.

Philip Johnston

The Telegraph

This could cover, not just Islamist hotheads, but Trotskyists who don’t respect British laws or Christians who don’t support gay marriage (and therefore don’t have “respect for minorities”).

Brendan O'Neill

Columnist

While everyone applauds the principle of tackling Islamic extremism, comments by David Cameron and other senior members of the Government suggest EDOs will exceed even Labour's notorious religious hatred Bill or Section 5 of the Public Order Act.

The Christian Institute

The fact that these Extremist Disruption Orders won’t only apply to potential terrorists, but simply to those who present a threat to public disorder, clearly highlights that this policy is the thin end of the wedge.

Big Brother Watch

A minister contemplating a law which imposes restrictions on freedom must have the imagination to foresee how the measures could be used and misused by over-zealous police officers and judges.

The Spectator

The insuperable problem with these plans, as written, is that their net could potentially catch many more political activists than those about whom Mrs May complains. A formulation to prevent “harmful activities” is one such example. A draft which penalises “threats to the functioning of democracy” is another. The creation of “alarm” or “distress” is another. All are very low thresholds. Much too low.

The Guardian

In an effort to preserve British values, among which May included “freedom of speech”, she has sanctioned moves that would hack away at that and other foundations of our society.

The Independent

The Home Office will soon, for the first time, assume responsibility for a new counter-extremism strategy that goes beyond terrorism. It will aim to undermine and eliminate extremism in all its forms – not just Islamist extremism – and it will aim to build up society to identify extremism, confront it, challenge it and defeat it.

George Osborne

Chancellor of the Exchequer

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