UK urged to contain pro-ISIL moves

UK’s Labor Party leader has called for tougher government measures to prevent British extremists from travelling to Iraq and Syria to join Takfiri terrorists as well as a “de-radicalization” process in the case of the returning terrorists.

Writing in the  UK-based daily Independent, Edward Miliband underscored the need for a “multilateral alliance” combining political, diplomatic and humanitarian action to counter the “perverted mission” of the Takfiri ISIL terrorism in the Middle East.

In the UK, he said, “We should act with clarity and determination” to tackle the threat from extremists.

Miliband also said, “Such action must include an overhaul of the Home Office Prevent programme to equip communities with the tools to stop young people being sucked into extremist ideology,” adding, “We should also do more to prevent potential fighters from travelling to the region, and promote an effective, mandatory program of de-radicalization for anyone who is drawn into the fringes of extremism in Syria and Iraq.”

He highlighted concerns raised by David Anderson, the independent reviewer of counter-terrorism legislation, about terrorism prevention and investigation measures (Tpims).

Anderson has recommended stronger measures to restrict the movements of people subject to Tpims, including powers similar to those under the scrapped control order regime allowing the authorities to relocate a terror suspect to another area.

Miliband’s remarks came ahead of UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s announcement of new counter-terrorism measures in parliament on Monday.

Cameron said on Friday that there were “gaps in our armoury” which needed to be filled after counter-terrorism experts warned that an attack on the UK was “highly likely.”

MFB/AB