Theresa May

The notion that Theresa May has said that Islam should not be criticised could be fake news, or exaggeration (see possible reference below*):

Theresa May, nor anyone, can not ban criticism in Britain (criticism is the expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of perceived faults or mistakes).

To do so is to ban freedom of speech, and a lot else besides.

It is not in the power of the Prime Minister or the Government to change those rights that are at the core of our 'constitution' and nation - without at least having included that intention in a manifesto on which her party was voted into power.

And probably much more.

Also, in common sense, it can not be said, other than; that Islam has several man-made faults built into its 1400-year-old practices, which are impossible to deny, and so Islam like any religion is open to criticism (In the religious context in which she was using it the "Islam" means "the surrendering of one's will to the true will of God in an effort to achieve peace").

And, as regards the behaviour of a number of the followers of extreme Islam ideologies, in Britain even if not elsewhere, it is certain that other Muslims have every right to criticise those? And if Muslims can do that then so, of course, can non-Muslims/anyone else.

It is also relevant that the majority of the voters in the UK do not believe in any particular 'God', and those people have a certain right to peacefully criticise the ideas and behaviour of those that do.

Theresa May announces the end of free speech in UK: “We value free speech…we also value tolerance to others”

https://www.jihadwatch.org/2018/05/theresa-may-announces-the-end-of-free-speech-in-uk-we-value-free-speech-we-also-value-tolerance-to-others

MAY 20, 2018 12:52 PM BY ROBERT SPENCER

Theresa May . . "We value freedom of expression and freedom of speech in this country.

That is absolutely essential in underpinning our democracy.

But we also value tolerance to others.

We also value tolerance in relation to religions.

This is one of the issues that we’ve looked at in the counter-extremism strategy that the government has produced.

I think we need to ensure that, yes, it is right that people can have that freedom of expression.

But in doing so, that right has a responsibility, too. And that is a responsibility to recognise the importance of tolerance to others.

Robert Spence . . "This heralds the end of the freedom of speech in Britain, for May’s statement is flatly self-contradictory.

Who will decide whether one’s criticism of Islam has shaded over into becoming “intolerant”?

Presumably the police or some governing authorities. But the freedom of speech is designed precisely to protect people from being prosecuted or persecuted by the governing authorities because their speech dissents from the accepted line. It was developed as a safeguard against tyranny.

By introducing this massive exception, May is turning the freedom of speech on its head and emptying it of all meaning.

She is also implying that the British government will now be bringing the full force of the law against those who are deemed intolerant, and indeed, that has already begun.. . . ."

Well, here is the Governments written view of Islam extremism - in the Counter-Extremism Strategy referred to:

Prime Minister . . . . " The fight against Islamist extremism is, I believe, one of the great struggles of our generation.

In responding to this poisonous ideology, we face a choice. Do we close our eyes, put our kid gloves on and just hope that our values will somehow endure in the end?

Or do we get out there and make the case for those (British) values, defend them with all that we’ve got and resolve to win the battle of ideas all over again?

In the past, I believe governments made the wrong choice. Whether in the face of Islamist or neo-Nazi extremism, we were too tolerant of intolerance, too afraid to cause offence.

We seemed to lack the strength and resolve to stand up for what is right, even when the damage being done by extremists was all too clear.

The publication of this Counter-Extremism Strategy is a clear signal of the choice we make today. In government, we have already overhauled our approach so that it tackles both violent and non-violent extremism.

We know that terrorism is really a symptom; ideology is the root cause.

But the stakes are now rising. The menace of ISIL and the sophisticated efforts of (Islam) extremists to groom and radicalise young British people demands a response of a different magnitude.

Seems about right?