Extremists not welcome
The week's news at a glance.
London
Prime Minister Tony Blair this week announced a tough new stance against Muslim clerics who promote violence. In addition to banning militant Islamic groups, Blair said he would ask Parliament to amend the Human Rights Act, which currently forbids deporting anyone to a country that practices torture. That act allowed militant clerics from Egypt and Syria who were wanted by their own governments to find a haven in Britain. “If you come to this country from abroad, then don’t meddle in extremism,” Blair said. British Muslims said the proposal would lead to discrimination. But Blair’s announcement quickly made an impact: Omar Bakri Mohammed, a Syrian-born Islamist cleric who praised the London suicide bombers as “the fantastic four,” has fled to Lebanon.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Taking aim at Venezuela’s autocrat
Feature The Trump administration is ramping up military pressure on Nicolás Maduro. Is he a threat to the U.S.?
-
Comey indictment: Is the justice system broken?
Feature U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan has indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of lying and obstructing Congress
-
Government shuts down amid partisan deadlock
Feature As Democrats and Republicans clash over health care and spending, the shutdown leaves 750,000 federal workers in limbo