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Britain\u2019s government published a new definition of extremism<\/a> on Thursday that it intends to use to cut ties or funding to groups deemed to have crossed the line, but which critics fear could curtail campaigners\u2019 rights and curb free speech.<\/p>\n Michael Gove, a senior cabinet minister, said in a statement that the move was intended to \u201cprotect democratic values\u201d by being \u201cclear and precise in identifying the dangers posed by extremism.\u201d<\/p>\n Some advocacy groups and legal experts greeted the announcement with concern, warning that it could affect the rights of those deemed by the government to meet the definition. The only way to challenge such a decision is likely to be through the courts.<\/p>\n The initiative has also stirred a wider debate about how, before a general election that must be held by early next year, British politicians choose to deal with domestic tensions that have risen since Hamas\u2019s Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and Israel\u2019s subsequent bombardment of the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Even before the details of the new extremism proposals were made public, they had provoked criticism from rights groups and concern from three former Conservative Party home secretaries, whose remit included national security, who warned against using the issue of extremism for political advantage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Leaders from the Church of England also weighed in. The archbishop of Canterbury \u2014 Justin Welby<\/a>, who is the head of the church and a peer in the House of Lords \u2014 and the archbishop of York said in a statement<\/a> issued on Tuesday that the new definition \u201cnot only inadvertently threatens freedom of speech, but also the right to worship and peaceful protest, things that have been hard won and form the fabric of a civilized society.\u201d<\/p>\n They added: \u201cCrucially, it risks disproportionately targeting Muslim communities, who are already experiencing rising levels of hate and abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n Under the new plan, extremism will be defined as \u201cthe promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance\u201d that aims to \u201cnegate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others; or undermine, overturn or replace the U.K.\u2019s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights,\u201d or intentionally create a \u201cpermissive environment\u201d for others to do so.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In its statement, the government said that its new definition was not statutory and would have no effect on existing criminal law. But it added that, after publication of the new definition, \u201cthe government will undertake a robust process to assess groups for extremism against the definition, which will then inform decisions around government engagement and funding.\u201d<\/p>\n Critics said it was that element \u2014 the idea that whichever government is in power could blacklist groups it considers extremist, and ban them from meeting with any government bodies or officials, or receiving taxpayer funding \u2014 that could threaten free speech and civil liberties.<\/p>\n David Anderson, a senior lawyer and former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation for the government, told the BBC that there were many questions that still needed to be answered about the policy.<\/p>\n \u201cThe definition remains extremely broad,\u201d he said. \u201cFor example, it catches people who advance an ideology which negates the fundamental rights of others. One can imagine both sides of the trans debate leaping on that one.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mr. Anderson, who is also a member of the House of Lords, said he did not take much comfort from reassurances that the definition related only to interactions with government. \u201cI think you are also affecting a lot of people potentially by branding them as extremists,\u201d he said, adding that it \u201caffects potentially the freedoms and reputations of an awful lot of people.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International\u2019s chief executive, described the plan as a \u201cdangerously sweeping approach to labeling groups and individuals \u2018extremist\u2019\u201d adding in a statement that it was \u201canother smash and grab\u201d on human rights.<\/p>\n \u201cThis attempt to stigmatize legitimate, peaceful political activity is taking us further down the road toward authoritarianism,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n