Inquiry into anti-radicalisation programme will only look at present and future proposals The independent review into the anti-radicalisation programme Prevent has been branded “strange” and “superficial” after it emerged it will exclude all past decisions from its scope. The review was announced after years of mounting criticism of Prevent, which has become a toxic brand for many within Muslim communities, with some viewing it as a state tool for spying on them. Source: Prevent review branded ‘superficial’ as past decisions overlooked | UK news | The Guardian

The review will consider the present delivery of Prevent and recommendations for the future, rather than past delivery of Prevent.The review in particular will consider the following:is Prevent achieving its objectives? These are to:tackle the causes of radicalisation and respond to the ideological challenge of terrorismsafeguard and support those most at risk of radicalisation through early intervention, identifying them and offering supportenable those who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitatehow effectively is Prevent being delivered at both the local and national levels?how effectively does Prevent interact with other safeguarding and vulnerability strategies, and what are the critical dependencies and common threads?how effective is the Statutory Prevent Duty, and how effectively is it being implemented?how could Prevent be improved to respond to justified criticisms and complaints?what should the government consider in the development of Prevent over the next 5 years, as the threat evolves, in order to best

An online lifestyle website for Britain’s Muslim teenage girls is being covertly funded by the Home Office’s counter-extremism programme.The website was started independently in 2015 in the wake of Shamima Begum’s departure to Syria along with two other British school girls.It has now been revealed by the Observer that SuperSisters, created by J-Go Media, accepts funding from the Building a Stronger Britain Together (BSBT) government counter-extremism project.The revelation has caused outrage and two employees of SuperSisters’ nine-staff team to resign. An online lifestyle website for Britain’s Muslim teenage girls is being covertly funded by the Home Office’s counter-extremism programme. The website was started independently in 2015 in the wake of Shamima Begum’s departure to Syria along with two other British school girls. It has now been revealed by the Observer that SuperSisters, created by J-Go Media, accepts funding from the Building a Stronger Britain Together (BSBT) government counter-extremism project. The revelation has caused outrage and two

SuperSisters employee resigns and recruit turns down job because of website’s links to counter-extremism strategy A Muslim online lifestyle platform targeting British teenagers is discreetly funded by the Home Office’s counter-extremism programme, the Observer has learned. The revelation about funding of the project has led to a row between its owners, a former Muslim employee and its Muslim audience. SuperSisters was built in 2015 by J-Go Media, a company of nine staff members from east London that describes itself as “a not-for-profit community group” and has two decades of experience of engaging with Muslim communities in East London. SuperSisters is promoted as a “global platform for young Muslimahs in east London to share and create inspiring and empowering content”. Source: “We acknowledge we went wrong”: Lifestyle website for Muslim teens admits it should have been clearer about Home Office funding | UK news | The Guardian

London – Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu damaged the credibility of the Police by promoting the toxic PREVENT programme and demonstrating a deeply […] London – Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu damaged the credibility of the Police by promoting the toxic PREVENT programme and demonstrating a deeply problematic understanding of causes of violence as he lectures in Israel, one of the worlds most militarily violent countries. During his speech, Basu urged the newly appointed ‘Independent’ PREVENT reviewer, Lord Carlile, who is on record saying he is biased towards the policy, to ignore ‘malign detractors’ and rather only engage with ‘critical friends’. A clear indication that the review is nothing more than a shallow rebranding exercise to bolster the toxic policy. Source: Top Counter Terror Police Officer uses platform in Netanyahu’s Israel to promote the toxic PREVENT policy – CAGE

The Home Office has pulled the plug on its contract with a firm paid millions of pounds to deradicalise jihadi brides returning Syria following bullying and excessive profit claims. The Home Office has ended its contract with a firm paid millions of pounds to deradicalise jihadi brides returning from Syria, following allegations that the owners bullied staff and made excessive profits. The Unity Initiative, which is run by a GP and her cage-fighter husband, became the subject of a Home Office investigation after officials received a number of complaints, including a letter reportedly from a group of former employees sent to both the Home Office and Probation Service. In addition to allegations of ‘bullying and harassment’, former staff complained that their salaries were comparatively poor compared to the income enjoyed by the company’s husband and wife bosses who last year bought a five-bedroom home in Surrey for £1.2 million. Source: Home

New report should begin key discussions on how to move beyond the fallaciousness of counter-terrorism policy I recently attended the launch of the Transnational Institute report “Leaving the War on Terror: A Progressive Alternative to Counter-Terrorism Policy” at the Houses of Parliament. The launch took place in a national and global environment where it is now widely acknowledged that the “War on Terror” is failing in every direction. As the Taliban negotiate a peace deal with the US, the original “War on Terror” is no more, despite the loss of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives. Yet, the policies of this “war” continue to be replicated through the lens of counter-terrorism and counter-extremism. Source: Beyond Prevent: Towards a society without counter-extremism | Middle East Eye

Judge rules against government database, which Council on American-Islamic Relations says is discriminatory against Muslims Hassan Shibly says he has never been happier in his life. The Florida-based Muslim-American lawyer has been interrogated and made to feel like a second-class citizen by United States border agents for the past 14 years. It happened every time he tried to return to the country from trips abroad, Shibly said. Now the source of his woes, the US government’s terrorist watchlist, has been declared unconstitutional by a federal district judge. Source: Muslim-American group hails ‘historic’ ruling against terror watchlist | Middle East Eye

There has been a “significant spike” in Islamophobic incidents following Boris Johnson’s comparison between women in burkas and letterboxes, according to an anti-racism group.Tell MAMA reported a 375% increase in anti-Muslim incidents from the week before Mr Johnson made the comments in August 2018 to the week after. There has been a “significant spike” in Islamophobic incidents following Boris Johnson’s comparison between women in burkas and letterboxes, according to an anti-racism group. Tell MAMA reported a 375% increase in anti-Muslim incidents from the week before Mr Johnson made the comments in August 2018 to the week after. Source: ‘Significant spike’ in Islamophobia after Boris Johnson’s comments on burkas | UK News | Sky News

Lyn Jenkins was visited by police after being reported to counter-terrorism programme A retired doctor who took part in non-violent environmental protests was visited by police at his home after his local NHS trust reported him to the government’s counter-terrorism programme. Lyn Jenkins, 69, joined the Extinction Rebellion environmental campaign after he became convinced that urgent action was needed to avert climate breakdown. His local NHS trust referred him to Prevent, the government’s flagship programme designed to stop people from becoming terrorists. Source: NHS reports protester to Prevent for joining Extinction Rebellion | UK news | The Guardian