Outrage at bid to give jihadis council homes
FURIOUS critics last night warned that giving jihadis returning from Syria council homes and benefits could increase the terror threat.
Extremists could be offered help hunting for jobs, counselling and jump to the top of housing waiting lists under Government plans.
But at least one senior MP and a former Government adviser branded the £ 900million scheme – due to start next year – absurd and warned it “rewards radicalisation” and could result in more atrocities.
Around 425 who went abroad have now returned.
Colonel Richard Kemp, a former government anti- terrorism adviser, said: “It goes beyond ridiculous, it is absurd. It will increase the threat.
Deprived
to fight
“What we need to do with people who want to kill us is find a way to hurt them – not give them benefits.
“Many of the extremists we are worried about do not come from deprived backgrounds. They are not doing it because they are deprived but because they are religiously and fanatically motivated.
“They will take what they are given but will still carry out their extremism. Every time you give things away to people like this you embolden them and why wouldn’t you be more likely to become radicalised if you get rewarded for it?”
Up to 20,000 former “subjects of interest” will be targeted under the scheme Operation Constrain. Khuram Butt, leader of the recent Borough Market attack, was part of that pool.
Police and social services will visit fanatics and assess what might prevent them from turning to violence. That could be rent- free council homes.
Tory MP Bob Stewart said he would rebel against the plans, adding: “I’m hoping the Government doesn’t ever come to me and ask me to support it because I won’t. We have no idea what is in the mind of these people when they come back.”
Dr Julian Lewis, chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee, said: “There have been cases of former jihadists who have become disenchanted and started working against extremism.
“On the other hand, any preferential treatment for extremists who have returned simply because their side has been defeated will rightly be resented by law- abiding citizens and may encourage others to believe that they can fight against our interests with impunity.”
The Home Office said: “The Government is committed to doing everything possible to protect our communities from the threat of terrorism.
“To respond to this threat, it is vital that we use all the means at our collective disposal to divert people away from terrorist- related activity and we are exploring the best ways of doing this with our partners.”