LONDON: Britain's approach to tackling extremism has been criticized for being “double-layered”, as far-right attacks are not as serious as those by Islamists, according to a leading think tank.
The Royal United Services Institute has raised concerns that right-wing violence is often dismissed as “mere harassment” by politicians, prosecutors and security services, the Observer reported on Sunday.
In contrast, similar actions by Islamist extremists are likely to be quickly classified as terrorism, the think tank argued in an article published by the newspaper.
The criticism follows a week of unrest across England and Northern Ireland, during which hotels and mosques were targeted by asylum seekers.
The violence is linked to neo-Nazi and far-right activities and highlights what RUSI describes as “double standards” in how different forms of extremism are addressed.
RUSI, founded in 1831 by the Duke of Wellington and often referred to as the world's oldest think tank, said this double standard had allowed far-right extremism to flourish in Britain.
Dr Jessica White, Head of RUSI's Terrorism and Conflict Research Group, Claudia Wallner, Research Fellow, and Emily Winterbohm, Director of Terrorism and Conflict Studies, co-authored the paper.
“RUSI's research shows that the nature of far-right violence, often seen as low-impact and fragmented, coupled with institutional bias and racism, means that far-right violence has historically been a response to far-right violence,” they wrote. Politicians and security have not created the same. services and media as violent jihadist extremism.
“There is a clear double standard or two-tiered approach in how to address different forms of extremism, particularly when comparing security and legal responses to violent far-right and Islamist extremism.
“Violence motivated by the far right is often simply classified as 'harassment' or hooliganism, while similar acts motivated by Islamist extremism are likely to be quickly labeled as terrorism.” “This inconsistency undermines the severity of far-right threats and prevents the political will and legal precedent necessary to take similar actions.”
In the article, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was criticized for his recent description of an attack on a hotel where refugees are staying as a “far-right mob,” according to the Observer.
While acknowledging the ideological roots of violence, the authors argued that the term “riotism” minimizes the organized and ideological nature of riots and the groups behind them.
RUSI advocated treating extreme incidents of extreme violence as terrorism. Recognizing extreme cases of far-right violence as terrorism “aligns with a fairer legal strategy and ensures that all forms of extremism are vigorously prosecuted”.
It argued that the recent riots should be seen as part of a wider “pattern of violence” across Europe that both politicians and the public are ignoring.
It continued: “Similar far-right riots occurred in Dublin in 2023 and in Chemnitz, Germany in 2018, both in response to stabbings that sparked widespread anti-immigrant sentiment, with far-right groups abusing “These incidents are to incite violence against immigrants and refugees.”
RUSI's findings follow recent allegations of bias in Britain's legal and political systems, particularly in the context of the pro-Palestinian protests that have taken place since October 7.
