Cameron urges Muslims to do more to stamp out extremism
PM praised for confronting 'uncomfortable truth' on terror, but others says his remarks are unhelpful
David Cameron will today raise concerns that extremist ideology is being "quietly condoned" in parts of British Muslim communities.
The Prime Minister will urge Muslims in the UK to do more to challenge extremist views and to report any concerns they might have to the authorities.
In a speech at the annual Globsec conference in Bratislava, Cameron is expected to say that it is "less of a leap" to go from a troubled British teenager to an Islamic State fighter if extremist ideology is "quietly condoned online or perhaps even in parts of your local community".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
His speech comes as three sisters from Bradford are believed to have taken their nine children to Syria, and Britain's youngest suicide bomber – a 17-year-old said to be fighting for Islamic State – was reported dead in Iraq. About 700 people are have reportedly travelled to Syria and Iraq to join the war, with around half said to have returned to the UK.
"Too often we hear the argument that the radicalisation is the fault of someone else," Cameron is expected to say today. "That blame game is wrong and dangerous. By accepting finger-pointing – whether it's at agencies or authorities – we are ignoring the fact that radicalisation starts with the individual… we need to treat the causes not just the symptoms."
The Daily Mail applauds Cameron for confronting what it calls an "uncomfortable truth" on terror.
"The overwhelming majority of British Muslims abhor everything about IS," says the Mail. "But pretending that some in the Islamic community cannot do more to condemn extremism and root out the preachers of hate is as terrifyingly misguided as it is dangerous."
The Daily Telegraph describes the Prime Minister's speech as "courageous". In an editorial, the newspaper says: "When it comes to maintaining law and order, it is the responsibility of the state to keep a close watch over potential terrorists and prosecute criminals. But the state can only do so much. Responsibility also lies with the communities and families from which the guilty arise."
However, Yousif Al-Khoei from the Centre for Academic Shia Studies, told Sky News that Cameron's comments were "unhelpful". If the government is serious about tackling IS, they "really need to take serious steps to tackle rampant Islamophobia", he said.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Quiz of The Week: 14 - 20 December
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Drugmakers paid pharmacy benefit managers to avoid restricting opioid prescriptions
Under the radar The middlemen and gatekeepers of insurance coverage have been pocketing money in exchange for working with Big Pharma
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A cyclone's aftermath, a fearless leap, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
How will the rebels rule Syria?
Today's Big Question Fall of Assad regime is a 'historic opportunity' and a 'moment of huge peril' for country and region
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published