David Cameron has managed to raise many eyebrows after stating how many Muslim communities “quietly condone” extremist ideology, instead of confronting it. He argued that part of some of Muslim communities have to share the blame for young Britons joining Isis as they do not confront the situation. His intervention came after the 17-year-old suicide bomber from Dewsbury, as well as the disappearance of three sisters from Bradford who are believed to have travelled to Syria.
In his speech, David Cameron had said, “We’ve always had angry young men and women buying into supposedly revolutionary causes. This one is evil, is it contradictory, it is futile – but it is particularly potent today. I think part of the reason it’s so potent is that it has been given this credence.”
He further stated, “So if you’re a troubled boy who is angry at the world or a girl looking for an identity, for something to believe in and there’s something that is quietly condoned online, or perhaps even in parts of your local community, then it’s less of a leap to go from a British teenager to an ISIL fighter or an ISIL wife than it would be for someone who hasn’t been exposed to these things.”
Baroness Warsi, who was the first Muslim to sit in Cabinet, condemns David Cameron's speech. She has warned that the speech which urges Muslims not to “quietly condone” terrorist groups has “demonised” those fighting extremism. She felt the emphasis was misconstrued and misguided, giving the impression that “Muslims are part of the problem, not part of the solution.”
Baroness Warsi said, “I agree there a few hundred people who believe in the Isis ideology, and it is why they choose to go to Syria and Iraq. And I also agree there are a few thousand who support the few hundred who decide to travel. But I disagree with the view that you label a community of over three million – you demonise a community of over three million – because of the actions of a few hundred or a few thousand."
Warsi also stated how she found Cameron's speech as “helpful”, adding, “It disempowers those very people in British Muslim communities who on a daily basis are fighting against Isis."
While the debate regarding condoning or confronting extremist ideologies continues, the Commons Home Affairs Committee Chairman, Keith Vaz believes that the UK must “up its game” in stopping people from travelling to Syria to join Islamic State. He also proposes that the British authorities start a “hotline to Istanbul”, in order to stop people from trying to cross the Turkey-Syria border.
Keith Vaz stated, “We need to up our game as far as our contact with Istanbul is concerned.”
He also believes that parents and communities have a responsibility to act. He said, “I think what we also need to do is to make sure that communities realise they should be in the driving seat on these issues. It can't be done by Whitehall. It's got to be done by parents and communities. They are first and foremost responsible for watching and learning and listening to whatever is going on."
