Short Comment on Tommy Robinson

The internet has been ablaze since the recent imprisonment of Tommy Robinson in the United Kingdom. Robinson aka Andrew McMaster and Paul Harris, is a right wing activist who co-founded the English Defence League, (EDL) This organisation proposes the opposition to “Illegal refuges”, he states, that,...these refugees have no intention of integrating and assimilating into western society. He said, “There is no reason why the state fears me in England, It is because we can bring people together and we are going to enter into a new era in Europe where everyone is going to unite against the “Islamisation” of our countries.” Robinson resigned from the EDF in 2013, due to his idealogical differences, namely, neo-nazis and white supremacists joining the group. Robinson claims to support “moderate Islam” but opposes “extreme-Islam”, those practising Sharia Law.

Those protesting Robinson's imprisonment, claim he was targeted by the government, based on spurious charges of violating the peace, yet was arrested, charged, judged and imprisoned in less than one day. Considering the swiftness of this “English justice”, it certainly causes suspicion, as the UK is not known for their support of free speech and freedom of the press. In fact, the authoritarian, neo-liberal May government, have been battling this anti-Islam-refugee growing faction in the UK since at least the elections in 2017.

This growing “right-wing” movement has been rising exponentially throughout the EU over the last six years. Most specifically in Austria, with the 2017 elected conservative Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz. In many respects, Kurz has brought the country together, proposing a strict “asylum-seeker quota system”, virtually stopping the flow of Islamic refugees entering the country.

My politics in this “suspicious silencing” of an ideological view which opposes those in power, has nothing to do with Robinson's views, but the act of imprisoning a legitimate opposing voice, is the problem, and should be the problem for all those who believe in democratic values. This man posed no apparent threat, except for his ideology. The true crime is the enforced silencing of a political voice. The May government calls Robinson a Nazi, when the May government have acted akin to Stalinist Russia, extinguishing all opposition.

Though the author of this quote is in dispute, it is appropriate, and reflects my political values:

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.