‘Citizen patrols’ and self-styled protective forces are fuelling social fears and the far right, say experts

Sporting black shirts emblazoned with an iron cross, a dozen or so men marched through the centre of Reykjavík, courting attention on a buzzy Friday night. In Poland and the Netherlands, vigilantes thronged along the German border, ready to turn back any asylum seekers they came across. In Belfast, they roamed after sunset, demanding to see the identity documents of migrants and people of colour.

Each of the groups, who are part of a renewed wave of anti-migrant vigilantes that have sprung up in recent months across Europe, have sought to cast themselves as a sort of protective force. But those who have studied vigilantes warn that their actions often exacerbate security concerns, sow fear and fuel the far right.

‘Citizen patrols’ and self-styled protective forces are fuelling social fears and the far right, say experts

Sporting black shirts emblazoned with an iron cross, a dozen or so men marched through the centre of Reykjavík, courting attention on a buzzy Friday night. In Poland and the Netherlands, vigilantes thronged along the German border, ready to turn back any asylum seekers they came across. In Belfast, they roamed after sunset, demanding to see the identity documents of migrants and people of colour.

Each of the groups, who are part of a renewed wave of anti-migrant vigilantes that have sprung up in recent months across Europe, have sought to cast themselves as a sort of protective force. But those who have studied vigilantes warn that their actions often exacerbate security concerns, sow fear and fuel the far right.

West Brom bounced back from a rough week with a gnarly victory to puncture the mood at the Championship’s early pacesetters, Stoke.

Ryan Mason, the head coach, had seen two key players depart in the days before this trip and had to watch from the stands as he served a touchline suspension. That did not prevent his team torpedoing Stoke’s 100% start to the campaign with a win that was as hard-fought as it was deserved.

West Brom bounced back from a rough week with a gnarly victory to puncture the mood at the Championship’s early pacesetters, Stoke.

Ryan Mason, the head coach, had seen two key players depart in the days before this trip and had to watch from the stands as he served a touchline suspension. That did not prevent his team torpedoing Stoke’s 100% start to the campaign with a win that was as hard-fought as it was deserved.

Western academics now speak of ‘genocide’ with newfound authority. Why weren’t our voices enough?

Today I watched those children again, the ones who stood before the cameras at al-Shifa hospital on 7 November 2023. They spoke in English, not their mother tongue, but the language of those who they thought might save them.

“We want to live, we want peace, we want to judge the killers of children,” one boy said. “We want medicine, food and education. We want to live as the other children live.”

How holy their concern now sounds, rising over a land emptied of the living.

As if starving a child pre-disposed to death makes the violence more justified?

Ahmad Ibsais is a first generation Palestinian American, law student and poet who writes the newsletter State of Siege

Western academics now speak of ‘genocide’ with newfound authority. Why weren’t our voices enough?

Today I watched those children again, the ones who stood before the cameras at al-Shifa hospital on 7 November 2023. They spoke in English, not their mother tongue, but the language of those who they thought might save them.

“We want to live, we want peace, we want to judge the killers of children,” one boy said. “We want medicine, food and education. We want to live as the other children live.”

How holy their concern now sounds, rising over a land emptied of the living.

As if starving a child pre-disposed to death makes the violence more justified?

Ahmad Ibsais is a first generation Palestinian American, law student and poet who writes the newsletter State of Siege