The UK government is set to treat extreme misogyny as a form of terrorism for the first time, according to a report by The Guardian. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has initiated a review of the counter-terrorism strategy to address violence against women and girls and identify gaps in current legislation.
Under the proposed plans, teachers would be legally required to refer pupils suspected of extreme misogyny to Prevent, the UK government's counter-terror program. The review is expected to be completed this autumn as part of a new counter-extremism strategy to be unveiled by the Home Office next year.
Does stoning women to death count as "extreme mysogyny", @YvetteCooperMP ?
How about the public flogging of women?
Are the muslim rape gangs who target underage white girls in cities like Rotherham to be charged as terrorists?
And will the councillors, social workers, labour… pic.twitter.com/acWeJpXUB1
— Jonathan Kinlay (@JonathanKinlay) August 18, 2024
Cooper told The Telegraph, "For too long, governments have failed to address the rise in extremism, both online and on our streets, and we've seen the number of young people radicalized online grow. Hateful incitement of all kinds fractures and frays the very fabric of our communities and our democracy."
The Labour MP added, "Action against extremism has been badly hollowed out in recent years, just when it should have been needed most. That's why I have directed the Home Office to conduct a rapid analytical sprint on extremism, to map and monitor extremist trends, to understand the evidence about what works to disrupt and divert people away from extremist views, and to identify any gaps in existing policy which need to be addressed to crack down on those pushing harmful and hateful beliefs and violence."
The Home Office currently ranks several extremism categories, including "incel" or "involuntarily celibate," an online subculture promoting a misogynistic worldview by men who blame women for their lack of sexual opportunities.
Last month, deputy chief constable Maggie Blyth, national lead for policing violence against women and girls (VAWG), warned that online influencers like Andrew Tate could radicalize young men and boys into extreme misogyny, similar to how terrorists recruit followers. Blyth emphasized the need for the Online Safety Act to go further and called for faster action to protect children.
Stop giving Andrew Tate a platform pic.twitter.com/k4jqwKknAH
— Dean™ OP🥇 (@Seb5meister) August 15, 2022
The National Police Chiefs' Council has published a report on violence against women and girls, framing it as a national emergency. Counter-extremism workers have also reported a rise in cases referred to them by schools concerned about the influence of Andrew Tate, including incidents of verbal harassment of female teachers and pupils echoing the influencer's views.
Tate is currently awaiting trial in Romania over allegations of rape, human trafficking, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. He denies the charges.
