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Showing posts with label David Amess. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David Amess. Show all posts
National Secular Society ✒ The national conversation following the brutal killing of David Amess suggests an unwillingness to tackle the Islamic extremism behind it, argues Stephen Evans.

The brutal killing of David Amess, stabbed to death at his Essex constituency surgery last week, was a vile, cowardly attack on decency and democracy.

The utter senselessness and callousness of this killing makes it hard to comprehend.

MPs and commentators have understandably expressed shock and grief, taken time to remember a man who dedicated his life to public service, and reflected on his legacy.

But the national conversation around Sir David's killing has also taken a bizarre turn on the issue of what caused it.

In no time at all commentators were blaming the "toxic political discourse" and "social media internet trolls" who hide behind anonymity while spreading hate.

This certainly is an issue, but it doesn't appear to be the issue, not as far as this murder is concerned.

The crime is being investigated as a terrorist incident. The suspect, Ali Harbi Ali, a Briton of Somali heritage, appears to have links to Islamic extremism, and was previously referred to the counterterrorist Prevent scheme. The Crown Prosecution Service will submit to the court that the murder had both religious and ideological motivations.

Continue reading @ National Secular Society.

Islamist Extremism Won’t Be Addressed By Ignoring It

Michael Nugent ✒ Eight years ago David Amess MP and I were on opposing sides at a debate in the Oxford Union. I argued that religion harms society, and David defended religion from his perspective as a Catholic. We disagreed fundamentally, but we did so peacefully and respectfully.


After the debate, Jane Donnelly and I had a friendly discussion with David about religion, society, and politics. He was a likeable, decent, and honourable man, who supported animal welfare and energy conservation as well as opposing abortion.
 

In the weeks before he was murdered at his constituency clinic, David supported the Alzheimer’s Society ‘Cure the Care’ campaign at the Conservative Party conference, and he called in Westminster for a debate on ending cruelty to animals.

His savage murder is primarily a personal tragedy for his family, friends, and colleagues. A good person, who dedicated his career to helping others, has had his life ended unjustly in horrific circumstances.

Like the murder five years ago of Jo Cox MP, this is also an attack on democracy. When violent extremists target public representatives, they do so to undermine the bonds of democracy that enable us to shape our future together with mutual respect.

These two murders should remind us that nonviolent democrats, from anywhere on the political spectrum, have more in common with each other than we have with violent authoritarians from anywhere on the political spectrum.

Michael Nugent is Chair
of Atheist Ireland 

The Murder Of David Amess MP

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