When it comes to people who support silencing extremist groups I’m always reminded of the story where the BBC got the head of the BNP on Question Time back in 2010 against a backdrop of extreme opposition from many sections of the left. The BBC didn’t give in and let him on. The result was his views were out in the open and the public could see how extreme and stupid his views were and the BNP who were rising in opinion polls collapsed (which might not have happened if they weren’t given a platform to show the public how stupid they were). Silencing groups pushes them underground and can and often does results in more extremism. |