After weeks of burying its head in the sand, the British Government has finally responded to Iran’s bloody crackdown.
Ministers are preparing legislation to proscribe hostile state agencies, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has been accused of helping to massacre thousands of protesters who want to break free from the yoke of Islamic theocracy.
Not before time. Credible reports indicate that this is the bloodiest crackdown in the Islamic Republic's history.
Thanks to an ongoing internet shutdown, estimates of the number killed vary, although it's clear that the regime is carrying out a state-sanctioned killing spree.
HRNANA, a human-rights monitor in Washington, has confirmed over 6,400 deaths. An opposition outlet has the toll as high as 36,000.
It's therefore incumbent on Labour to ban the Islamic regime's goons from Britain, and it should fast-track the legislation.
But why stop there? This is the perfect opportunity to crack down on Islamism at home.
Recent reports indicate thousands of individuals linked to Islamist extremist activity are currently living among us.
In 2024, Islamists accounted for 80 per cent of the police’s counter-terror caseload, 75 per cent of MI5’s and 63 per cent of terrorists in custody.
Worryingly, figures published in November revealed that only 10 per cent of Prevent's caseload relates to Islamist extremism, down from 13 per cent in the previous year.
This is despite Islamist terrorists being responsible for 94 per cent of all terror-related murders in Britain since 1999 and around 88 per cent of injuries caused by terrorism over the same period.
In the year ending March 2025, of the 257 persons in custody for terrorism and terrorism-connected offences in Great Britain, 61 per cent were classed as ‘Islamist extremists' and 29 per cent ‘extreme right wing'.
Banning Iran’s Revolutionary Guards is window dressing while we harbour Islamists at home - Adam Chapman
|Getty Images
Our soft touch has been noted overseas. Earlier this month, it emerged that the United Arab Emirates curtailed subsidies for Emirati citizens to attend UK universities, citing concern that they would become radicalised by the Muslim Brotherhood.
This all demonstrates that despite repeated terror attacks, the threat of Islamist extremism is still not being taken seriously in Britain.
The oversight can be attributed to many factors. A 2023 report by William Shaw, the Shawcross review, argued that Prevent had lost focus on the threat of Islamist extremism by diverting too many resources to right-wing cases.
Fear of offending Muslims has also warped decision-making at the highest levels.
It's time we grew a backbone. Deporting foreign nationals who have links to Islamic extremism would be a good place to start. We should also ramp up surveillance efforts and turn the screws on faith leaders to root out radicals.
I agree with James Price that Britain should follow Donald Trump’s administration and ban the Muslim Brotherhood.
What the Government shouldn't be doing is investing all its time and energy into finalising a definition of Islamophobia that will stifle any criticism of Islam.
As the arch-exporter of Islamism worldwide, taking a tougher line on Iran is clearly in Britain's national interests.
However, these actions seem performative while Britain continues to harbour Islamists.
This moment should intensify efforts to expunge the ideology from our borders.
I don't hold out much hope.
More From GB News