Charity’s work ‘key’ to tackling radicalisation

Workshops help mothers spot signs

A YORKSHIRE-BASED charity that works with mothers to prevent extremist behaviour in children has been heralded as key to tackling radicalisation as figures have show a rise in the number of young people being arrested for terrorism offences.

Mothers Against Radicalisation workshops, which are run by the charity Empowering Minds, were set up to help women spot the signs of radicalisation.

The programme, which has trained more than 450 mothers, aims to educate and empower to challenge intolerance and the dangers of extremist behaviour.

It also focuses on creating an open dialogue with mothers to instil confidence in having difficult conversations with their loved ones.

With the risk of extremism increasing as the Covid-19 pandemic drives more young people online and statistics showing an eight per cent increase in hate crime between 2019 and 2020, the workshops are now taking place virtually to ensure lockdown does not stop the vital support on offer.

Sofia Mahmood, the founder of Empowering Minds, said: “Mothers know their children better

than anyone and so they are essential in helping to spot the signs of radicalisation.

“This is why we are determined to reach out and invest in mothers to equip them with the right tools and skills.

“As a community we need to provide a strong sense of belonging to prevent anyone becoming a victim of radicalisation, especially during lockdown where online extremism has been at its worst.”

Latest Home Office statistics show the number of arrests for terrorism offences across all age groups fell in the 12 months to December 2020, except for those under the age of 18, which rose from 12 to 19 – an increase of 58 per cent.

Of those arrested in the latest year, 81 per cent considered themselves to be of British or British dual nationality, up 10 per cent on the previous year and the highest proportion in a calendar year since the data collection began.

Of the 209 terrorists in custody, the vast majority – 75 per cent – were categorised as holding Islamist-extremist views. A further 20 per cent were classed as holding far-right ideologies.

A 37-year-old Yorkshire mother, who has taken part in the workshops, said: “I have met people who had barriers and reservations about Muslims. I was worried we would be seen as the perpetrators of why radicalisation is so rife in Yorkshire.

“I was taught to try and understand why those preconceptions were there. Challenging information you see, hear, or read is how I am now friends with those who once judged me. We are all mothers. We are more alike than different.”