UK far right promoting sexual violence against women, report finds

New analysis reveals misogyny increasingly prevalent online and being used to steer people into racism and antisemitism

Mark Townsend
@townsendmark
Sun 26 Sep 2021 18.00 BST

Sexual violence is increasingly being promoted by the British far right, according to new analysis documenting how misogyny is used to steer individuals towards adopting racist and antisemitic views.

Investigators found that pro-rape comments were “not uncommon” among the UK extreme right and that a culture has taken root that endorses sexual violence. Analysing misogyny and anti-feminist channels on the messaging app Telegram, a key online platform for the far right, they found sexual assault was a “prominent theme”.

The report, from anti-fascist organisation Hope Not Hate and the Antisemitism Policy Trust, reveals how the far right has become adept at exploiting a perceived loss of status among white men. It follows last month’s shootings in Plymouth when gunman Jake Davison killed six people after expressing deeply misogynistic ideas.

The investigation into the death of schoolteacher Sabina Nessa has also thrown into the spotlight the safety of women as they go about their daily lives.

“The online antisemitic far right is exploiting misogyny and anti-feminism in new ways and forging fresh connections, meaning this overlap is an increasingly pressing area of research,” the report said.

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