Violent Threats Against ‘Blasphemy’ Increasing: Report

Anti-blasphemy activism in the UK is gaining momentum and showing signs of becoming increasingly radicalised, according to a government report. A report released on Monday titled “Understanding and Responding to Blasphemy Extremism in the UK” warns that blasphemy related incidents have increased in frequency over recent years. The report produced by extremism expert Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens said the incidents involve extreme sectarianism, intimidation, and threats of violence and pointed to three recent “blasphemy flashpoints” in the UK. He said that anti-blasphemy activism comes in various guises but two, which he said were the most “pervasive and inflammatory,” included targeting anti-blasphemy against non-Muslims deemed to have “insulted Islam” usually by showing images depicting the Prophet Muhammad or damaging physical copies of the Quran....