Young British Muslims fear arrest for criticizing Israel despite no such law existing.

Evidence

One of our respondents, Daniel, who was involved in an initiative that brings together young Jews and Muslims, told Yulia that it was often hard for him to recruit Muslim participants. When he tried to explore what was preventing them from taking part in these events, he was told that some young Muslims felt that it would not be legally safe for them to engage in these activities. They were worried that they might be asked about their position on Israel and, if they made any negative comments, they would be arrested, they told Daniel. … Making negative remarks about Israel does not constitute a criminal offence in the UK. However, we suggest that the scepticism of these young people should not be dismissed as sheer delusion. — James Renton, Ben Gidley (eds.), Antisemitism and Islamophobia in Europe, 1760

Categorization

• QUESTION: What is the actual legal situation in the UK regarding anti-Israel speech and the Terrorism Act or hate speech provisions, and how much of this fear is reasonable?
• SEED: A possible essay: how perceived legal danger, not actual law, shapes who dares to participate in interfaith dialogue — and what that says about trust in institutions.