Government & Politics

Prevent review: Shawcross reforms risk ‘slide into authoritarianism,’ critics warn Coalition of civil society organisations, community leaders and rights groups urge the British government to withdraw Shawcross report

(Middle East Eye) The UK is facing a “slide into dangerous authoritarianism” if the government proceeds with the recommendations of a contentious review of Prevent, critics of the counter-terrorism strategy have warned. In a joint letter issued on Tuesday, a coalition of […]

Government & Politics

Prevent review: Treat Hamas and Islamic State supporters the same, says Shawcross Counter-extremism reviewer says supporters of proscribed Palestinian movement should face full force of counter-terrorism powers

(Middle East Eye) Supporters of Hamas should be treated the same as supporters of the Islamic State group and subjected to the full force of the law, a contentious review of the UK government’s Prevent counter-extremism strategy has recommended. William Shawcross’s review, […]

Government & Politics

Government’s anti-terror programme failing to ‘understand and tackle antisemitism’ William Shawcross's long-[awaited] report into the Prevent programme includes references to cases that the author says show 'the prevalence of extreme antisemitism'

(Jewish News) The government’s anti-terror programme is not doing enough to “understand and tackle antisemitism,” a new report has concluded. The findings of former Charity Commission chairman William Shawcross’s long-awaited report into the Prevent programme included claims by the author he was […]

Government & Politics

UK’s Prevent terror strategy review to address classifying extremists as victims Shawcross report expected to warn that treating potentially dangerous people as vulnerable presents serious security issues

(National-UAE) The classification of extremists as vulnerable people is a “mischaracterisation,” the author of a review of the UK’s Prevent strategy is expected to say. William Shawcross, author of the review, is understood to have taken issue with how the government’s counter-terrorism […]

Government & Politics

Far-right terrorism rise in UK ‘masks threat of Islamist extremism’ Security expert concerned risk is being misjudged and warns of possible ISIS resurgence

(National-UAE) Britain cannot afford to underestimate the threat Islamist terrorism continues to pose to its security, an expert has warned, amid growing emphasis on the rise of far-right ideology among prisoners. Dr Paul Stott, head of security and extremism at Policy Exchange, […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Radical Islamist organisations being funded by Tory government’s counter-terrorism programme: report

(Breitbart) The British taxpayer has allegedly been handed out to radical Islamist organisations that have “promoted extremist narratives,” according to leaked draft excerpts from an independent review on the government’s counter-[terrorism] programme. A long-awaited review conducted by former Charity Commission Chairman Sir […]

Academics & Education

Home Office accuses UK Muslim student group of acting ‘dangerously and irresponsibly’ Federation of Student Islamic Societies plans to host anti-counter-extremism university tour

(National-UAE) A British Muslim student group has been accused of acting “dangerously and irresponsibly” by the government for hosting an anti-counter-extremism university tour. The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (Fosis) is hosting a tour of seven universities, including three Russell Group institutions, […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

UK’s charity regulator urged to investigate Policy Exchange over ‘anti-Muslim agenda’ Complaint to Charity Commission accuses think tank of Islamophobia over report in which David Cameron said Muslim critics of Prevent were 'enabling terrorism'

(Middle East Eye) The UK’s charities regulator is being urged to investigate the Policy Exchange think tank for alleged racism and Islamophobia, over a report in which it accused Muslim critics of the government’s Prevent strategy of “enabling terrorism.” In a letter […]

Government & Politics

Intelligence agency needs to keep a closer watch on extremism in prisons, report says Authors of internal review call out ‘lack of coverage’ of people convicted of terrorism

(CBC) Canada’s spies could be doing a better job of investigating extremism in the prison system, says an internal report. The document, obtained through an access to information request, emerged from a behind-the-scenes review of how the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the […]

Government & Politics

French government calls UK advocacy group Cage ‘Islamist militants’ Anti-radicalisation body accuses organisation of supporting terrorists and seeking to smear France

(National-UAE) UK advocacy group Cage, which has a focus on Muslim detainees, has been labelled “Islamist militants” by the French government’s anti-radicalisation body. The Interministerial Committee for the Prevention of Delinquency and Radicalisation has published nine tweets accusing Cage, founded by former […]