I’ve been travelling around the country talking to people about extremism – here’s what I found

Social media has been a gift for extremists allowing them to produce slick viral videos. They are adept at targeting young people with an 'us versus them' narrative, whipping up wild conspiracy theories and fake news in order to generate anger

In Liverpool faith leaders are dealing not only with far-right extremists targeting their places of worship but also the existence of religious extremists (iStock)

Extremism comes in different shapes and sizes and takes all sorts of different forms, but usually people know it when they see it. The problem is that conversations about extremism make people nervous.

Often the focus is rightly on the point where extremism becomes terrorism, but the root of the problem lies in chronic extremism – the spreading of hatred and division and the undermining of shared values. And the old stereotypes don’t always apply.

Today, as part of a pioneering new study into extremism, the Commission for Countering Extremism, which I lead, is inviting submissions from the public in a bid to understand what factors cause the spread of radicalisation.

We want to understand the scale of the challenge including the online aspects, the tactics employed by extremists and critically the harms caused by extremism – to individuals, communities and our society.

Understanding what modern day extremism looks like in 2018 is a priority because by understanding it, we will be better equipped to challenge it.

We’ve already met with the experts. I’ve visited towns and cities, and spoken to people across the country: from Liverpool to Portsmouth, from Tower Hamlets to Newcastle. I have spoken to Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, Muslim and Humanist activists. I have had wonderfully robust dialogue with those who are weary of the counter-extremism agenda.

What I have learnt so far has been both inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time.

Youth workers in Newcastle shared their deep concern about the viral nature of far-right propaganda online and the lack of alternative messages.

Councillors and officials in Newcastle and Luton highlighted the impact that far right demonstrations have on residents. They leave minority communities scared to go out of their homes. They cause huge disruption for local businesses.

In Leicester activists were worried that extremists from minority backgrounds sought to divide communities on religious, ethnic and racial grounds through the promotion of hate. They told me how religious extremists and fundamentalists of all persuasions would promote sectarianism and hate behind closed doors.

In Liverpool, faith leaders highlighted a double-edged problem. Dealing not only with far-right extremists targeting their places of worship but also the existence of religious extremists from within their communities misusing their faith’s teaching to advocate hate, and even violence.

Extremism in 2018 is complex, multi-faceted and has in some cases become professionalised and even intellectualised.

Social media has been a gift for extremists allowing them to produce slick viral videos. They are adept at targeting young people with an “us versus them” narrative, whipping up wild conspiracy theories and fake news in order to generate anger. They then often use and misuse the language of human rights to clothe their hate in respectability or “justice” when it is anything but.

It requires courage to stand up to those who are promoting hate and extremism.

Whether it’s teachers, parents, imams, councillors, activists… more and more people are challenging extremists. What has been particularly shocking to hear, however, are the repeated stories of abuse, the sheer scale of vilification and the tactics employed against these courageous individuals.

A Muslim teacher told me how he had set up sessions for Muslim children because he was so concerned about the hate filled and distorted teachings of Islam that they were being exposed to. Yet in a hushed tone, he shared with me the appalling abuse he had received including smears suggesting that he was spying on Muslim children on behalf of the state.

Brave Sikh activists received a vile and vitriolic response when they challenged those who had expressed and invited support for Tommy Robinson and his anti-Muslim views.

Councillors were unfairly and promptly labelled as “Islamophobes” when standing up to Islamist extremists and their sympathisers in their city.

At every turn extremists seek to discredit courageous individuals and shut down legitimate debate.

I believe we have the start of a powerful counter-extremism movement. We should be championing and supporting these local unsung heroes – but there is little public awareness about the challenges they face.

Understanding the changing nature of extremism and our counter response is a challenge of our time.

I want to look at the tactics employed by extremists and what we can do to better support those standing up to them. I want to investigate the scale of extremism, and the harm it causes. I want to look at how we can have a less polarised and more consistent debate, because that’s the only way we will allow everyone to speak out against extremism and stop those tearing apart our communities.

Sara Khan is leader of the Commission for Countering Extremism