JUSTIN TOMLINSON MP: United to oppose extremism

JE SUIS CHARLIE. Those were the words held up on placards by defiant Parisians who came together in solidarity to condemn the horrific terrorist attack that shook the French Capital.

It was one of the worst terrorist attacks that France has seen in its history, and one that struck at the heart of one of our shared democratic values - freedom of speech.

Charlie Hebdo is a satirical magazine that was determined to ridicule extremism and didn’t shy away from controversial topics. Whether you agreed with the magazines content or not, it represented freedom of expression and exercised the wonderful liberty which forms the heart of our shared democracies.

The editors and cartoonists who tragically lost their lives, were successful in dismissing extremism in a creative and comedic way that emphasised the isolated nature of extreme Islam, and reminded us all that terrorists carry out their murderous actions under the banner of religion, but couldn’t actually stand anymore at odds with the peaceful nature of religion.

In the aftermath of the attack, it was revealed that French authorities had prevented a number of similar terrorist plots over the past year, and the Country as a whole stands on full alert with an increasing number of police guarding densely populated areas.  The attack was not carried out by a lone wolf, but a minority that requires us all to stay vigilant.

Here in the UK, our Security Services do a fantastic undercover job of hunting out and preventing similar plots. But our risk levels of a terrorist attack still stand at severe, which is why we must continue to show determination and vigour when it comes to fighting global terrorism.

The Government has already started to tackle home-grown extremism to prevent similar attacks on our streets - we have toughened up the rules to strip the passports of British citizens who have expressed interest in travelling abroad to engage in terrorist activity. For those trying to return to the UK having engaged in terrorist activity, the Home Secretary now has the power to strip them of their citizenship and exclude them from the country.

Adhering to British values is not an option or a choice, it is a duty for all those who live in this Country. By standing with other nations and protecting our values, we will rid the world of extremism and secure our democracy for future generations.

For now, our thoughts are with the French nation, and especially the families of those who were killed. In response, let’s ensure that these tragic events only make our Countries more focused on uniting together in order to defend liberty, reject extremism and oppose tyranny.