Stuart Weir (Cambridge, Democratic Audit): Funny what we can say and what we can't say. Perhaps the most prevalent complaint about censorship and self-censorship in British society is that about "political correctness". Actually I do myself often squirm in frustration over some of the absurd prohibitions and circumlocutions that PC-ness leads to (being a fan of plain-speaking myself) and of course give the tabloid anti-PC campaign so much ammunition. Then there is the constant whingeing of religious organisations and "faith communities" (now there's a phrase I would love to ban!) demanding that we should not offend their beliefs or ways of life - and that can lead to the egregious behaviour of Prince Charles in ducking out of the premiere of Brick Lane, an innocuous film drawn from Monica Ali's perceptive novel about life for women in the Bangladeshi community in east London. A handful of vociferous and self-appointed "community leaders" (another awful phrase) made a fuss about both the novel and film and Charles decided that it would not be "appropriate" to attend the premiere. Ye gods!
But far more pernicious is the censorship that seeks to choke debate and understanding of terrorism. Cherie Blair provoked outrage when she said that she could understand why some young Palestinians might turn to terrorism. Now a huge fuss is brewing about Britz, the new Channel 4 drama about two young Muslims, one of whom becomes Britain's first female suicide bomber, with the Home Office joining the British Muslim Forum in condemning it. Yet, as the writer says (and as I, Andrew Blick and Tufyal Choudhury wrote in a careful study of terrorism and community for the Rowntree Reform Trust), the danger of second-generation Muslims in this country turning to terrorism is the biggest challenge that our counter terrorism strategy faces, and acknowledging, understanding and discussing the whys and wherefores is essential to combating that danger. Politicians blether on about our values of tolerance and open debate. They have to live up to them in their approach to young Muslims in the UK, not only to try and avert the danger, but for the sake of those young people themselves and their proper place in UK society.
OK: See also our new post on Paul Gilroy and Black Britz
