Government unveils new strategy to fight extremism

The Czech government on Monday unveiled a new strategy in the fight against extremism, which should involve repression and prevention in equal measure. The strategy involves closer cooperation between town mayors, the police, state attorneys and judges in preventing extremist gatherings from taking place, pinpointing offences when they happen and punishing the offenders. Interior Minister Ivan Langer said the rise in extremism in recent years was all the more dangerous in that it had growing public support and that extremist organizations now had lawyers to advise them how to stay within the margin of the law while spreading their propaganda. He said the state must intensify its efforts to counter this, at all levels.