Rise in extremism ‘is destabilising the West’

Islamist “hyper-extremism” could destabilise the West, according to a report that studies religious freedom in all 196 of the world’s countries.

Aid to the Church in Need’s survey of religious liberty said the “new phenomenon” had emerged since 2014 and was “unprecedented in its violent expression”.

Hyper-extremism is characterised by a “radical system of law and government”, a hostile attitude to other faiths and non-conforming Muslims, cruelty, use of social media, and a global impact “enabled by affiliate extremist groups and well-resourced support networks”.