A leading critic of religious extremism today claimed excessive political correctness may push some people towards hate-filled views.
Dr Uamsa Hasan, head of Islamic studies at the Quilliam Foundation, said stifling debate was dangerous.
He said open discussions were the key to fighting extremism among young people - and he urged against a retreat to “safe spaces” as seen at some university campuses.
Dr Hasan was speaking at Turing House free school, in Teddington, as part of a unique nationwide debating programme.
An outspoken critic of Islamist extremism, he has previously received death threats for advocating evolution within the religion.
He argued that in recent years sensitive topics such as the causes of Islamist terror have been “stifled”, leading to extreme views being pushed to the darkest corners of the internet: “If you push these issues to one side then it will explode," he said. "That is where political correctness went too far.
“Stifling debate is dangerous. We know these ignorant or dangerous views exist, but if you ignore them they don’t go away. They fester. People feel a sense of frustration that they don’t have the freedom to express their views, which can lead to even more extreme views.” [Evening Standard] Read more
