Anti-extremism scheme ‘is working’, claims boss ‘Prevent’ drive has saved people from radicalisation in city
THE government’s controversial anti-extremism ‘Prevent’ strategy has protected scores of vulnerable young people in Birmingham from radicalisation, according to the council official responsible.
Waqar Ahmed, who has overseen the programme in Birmingham for a decade, highlighted the work of community groups tackling extremism despite critics branding the scheme Islamophobic and claiming it targeted innocent people.
A recent Home Affairs Select Committee report also called for it to be renamed ‘Engage’.
But Mr Ahmed said: “It is naïve to think those who do not support the current brand will immediately rush to join the fight against terrorism and extremism the minute you change the name.”
Mr Ahmed highlighted the activity of the Faith Associates who worked with 30 mosques in Birmingham to hand out 50,000 booklets to worshippers challenging ISIS views.
He said: “KIKIT, a local substance misuse charity, works with 20 mosques across the city providing support around a range of vulnerabilities including radicalisation, and we have local activists who regularly come out and challenge extremist speakers online and on the streets who do so because they care.
“This sort of community engagement is replicated around the country.
“Is it any surprise in the current climate that three out of the four examples were targeted as being government stooges or part of a government propaganda machine despite their ideas being their own and the projects being developed in their communities by them?”
He said that critics wilfully ignore the evidence from these groups to create suspicion of Prevent and added that a re-branding would do little to change that. He also warned that tackling radicalisation would always be difficult.
“Engagement was difficult when the strategy was introduced, it is difficult today and it will still be difficult tomorrow.
“Preventing radicalisation or extremism is not an easy task ; it requires difficult conversations, strong leadership from all sides of government, communities, partners and wider civil society.
“When community groups do take a stand, they are immediately targeted and accused of selling their com-
When community groups do take a stand, they are immediately targeted
munities out questioned.”
Among critics of the scheme was campaign group UK Rights Watch which claimed children as young as four were being identified as radicalisation risks.
It said schools were afraid to discuss terrorism in the class as a result – leaving youngsters to pick up unfiltered information online.
However, school inspectorate Ofsted has warned that many colleges were not doing enough to limit students access to extremist websites or monitor guest speakers. and their credibility
Waqar Ahmed