From Afghanistan to Israel, to Sweden, extreme Islamists from the UK, have been travelling to those countries - and more besides - with the intention of causing mayhem and murder.
What is it about this country, which cherishes democracy and tolerance, that has spurred on a generation of individuals to become extreme Islamists?
The answer lies in the radicalisation of some of our mosques, extreme Islamic activities at Universities, and radical Islamist groups that exist in our society.
The situation in Britain is reaching crisis point. Who knows what terrorist atrocity will happen next - in what country - and if a British citizen will be involved. The tragedy is that - as recent events have shown - the chances of this are ever increasing.
To this end, during Prime Minister's Questions today, I asked David Cameron the following:
"Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Time and time again, we seem to be exporting extreme Islamist terrorists and suicide bombers to Afghanistan, Israel and now Sweden. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to drain the poison of extreme Islamism from our country?
The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend raises an incredibly important point. If we are frank on both sides of the House, we have not done enough to deal with the promotion of extremist Islamism in our own country. Whether it is making sure that imams coming over to this country can speak English properly, or whether it is making sure that we de-radicalise our universities, we have to take a range of further steps, and I am going to be working hard to make sure that we do. Yes, we have got to have the policing in place; yes, we have got to make sure that we invest in our intelligence services; yes, we have got to co-operate with other countries—but we have also got to ask why it is that so many young men in our own country get radicalised in this completely unacceptable way".
Although I was heartened by this answer, there remain significant problems: in too many cases appeasement of militant Islam is seen as the easier option; our academic institutions are often too weak - or reluctant - to take on extremists, and the radicalisation of some Mosques is so prevalent and deep, that it is too entrenched to combat.
The signs are - as the Prime Minister's response showed - that the Government is now alert to this threat. Not a moment too soon.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Of course, Muslim perception of the West's actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East do not help.
ReplyDelete"we have also got to ask why it is that so many young men in our own country get radicalised in this completely unacceptable way"
And keep asking - presumably moderate Muslim leaders and psychologists can reason with these people. What can we learn from the Saudi's de-radicalisation system?