A commentator accused of Islamaphobia holds “mainstream, insightful and perfectly decent political views,” Suella Braverman has said.
In a statement to MPs on the progress of the government’s controversial ‘Prevent’ counter-terrorism strategy, the home secretary said it was wrong for Douglas Murray to have been named in a Home Office paper alongside individuals “associated with far-right-sympathetic audiences”.
Murray, associate director of the Neo-conservative think tank, the Henry Jackson Society, sparked outrage following a 2006 speech in the Dutch parliament in which he said the “conditions for Muslims in Europe must be made harder across the board.”
He called for the banning of “all immigration into Europe from Muslim countries,” and suggested that European Muslims who “take part in, plot, assist or condone violence against the West must be forcibly deported to their place of origin.”
In 2014, the author identified Islamic ideology as the root of violence for a piece in The Spectator, claiming “extremists do not make their claims based on some mild misreading, but on a plausible reading of the texts and traditions which have existed within the religion since its founding.”
It follows his claim that London has “become a foreign country” because “white Britons” were a minority in 23 of 33 London boroughs.
Braverman also rejected the inclusion of Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, a fierce supporter of Brexit.
She said: “People like my Right Honourable Friend the Member for North East Somerset and Douglas Murray express mainstream, insightful and perfectly decent political views. People may disagree with them, but in no way are they extremists,” said Braverman.
“Prevent must not risk any perception of disparaging them as such again.”
The home secretary’s comments were condemned by Sayeeda Warsi, a Conservative member of the House of Lords.
The former party chairman wrote on social media: “Our country is tragically being ripped apart by arsonists masquerading as patriots – divisive politicians that sow the seeds of discontent and promote culture wars setting our country alight.”
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