Extinction Rebellion is threatening legal action against counter-terrorism police for what it said was the illegal listing of the group as an extremist ideology in a guide designed to help stop terrorist violence. The Guardian revealed on Friday that counter-terrorism police had placed the non-violent protest group on a list of extremist ideologies that should be reported to the authorities running the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme. Police now say that was an error. Amnesty International condemned the decision on Saturday as criticism grew and questions remained about how Extinction Rebellion (XR) came to be included in the guide alongside neo-Nazi and terrorist groups. Source: Extinction Rebellion could sue police over extremist ideology listing | Environment | The Guardian

The official scheme to stop people becoming terrorists risks being damaged by scandals such as listing Extinction Rebellion as an extremist ideology, a former senior police chief has said. Sir Peter Fahy, who was head of Prevent from 2010 to 2015, said confidence from communities was vital to its success and legitimacy. He was speaking after the Guardian revealed police had branded the nonviolent climate emergency group as an extremist ideology in a guide designed to help stop terrorist violence. Source: Ex-Prevent chief pans terror list’s inclusion of Extinction Rebellion | UK news | The Guardian

Counter-terrorism police placed the non-violent group Extinction Rebellion (XR) on a list of extremist ideologies that should be reported to the authorities running the Prevent programme, which aims to catch those at risk of committing atrocities, the Guardian has learned. The climate emergency campaign group was included in a 12-page guide produced by counter-terrorism police in the south-east titled Safeguarding young people and adults from ideological extremism, which is marked as “official”. XR featured alongside threats to national security such as neo-Nazi terrorism and a pro-terrorist Islamist group. The guide, aimed at police officers, government organisations and teachers who by law have to report concerns about radicalisation, was dated last November. Source: Terrorism police list Extinction Rebellion as extremist ideology | UK news | The Guardian

Boris Johnson is one of the most openly racist and Islamophobic politicians in recent British history. His own abhorrent statements aside, Johnson leads a party where multiple members have been excluded for Islamophobia, with a number subsequently readmitted. He has also U-turned on the promise to conduct an inquiry into the issue, instead now running a broader inquiry into “discrimination” which displaces the specific concerns Muslims have with the party – not to mention the lack of confidence many have with the chairman of the inquiry. Notorious Islamophobes such as Tommy Robinson, Katie Hopkins and Nick Griffin all praised his win. If this election was the “second Brexit referendum”, this should come as no surprise. The first was won by stoking the same racism and Islamophobia. Source: Under Boris Johnson, Islamophobia will reach a sinister new level | Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan | Opinion | The Guardian

The UK government has conceded a legal challenge over its appointment of a vocal advocate of the Prevent strategy to review the controversial counter-terrorism policy by withdrawing his appointment. In a letter on Thursday to Rights Watch (UK), a human rights group which Middle East Eye first reported was set to challenge Lord Carlile’s appointment in a judicial review, the government said that Carlile would no longer be conducting the Prevent review. “It is made clear at the outset that the government has full confidence that Lord Carlile has carried out the review to date with rigour and an open mind; and the decision not to defend the proceedings in no way calls into question his integrity or fair-mindedness. However, his appointment has been concluded,” the letter said. Source: UK government drops Lord Carlile as Prevent reviewer after legal challenge | Middle East Eye

Lord Carlile QC has been stood down by the government as independent reviewer of the Prevent programme following a legal challenge over his appointment. In a letter to Rights Watch UK, which launched the legal action against the Home Office earlier this year, the government’s legal advisers said they had “full confidence” in his work but confirmed his role “has been concluded”. Terms of reference for the review of Prevent are also being reconsidered by the Home Office, the letter stated. Source: Lord Carlile removed from Prevent review after legal challenge | Prevent strategy | The Guardian

A primary school-aged child has had details of their referral to the government’s controversial anti-radicalisation Prevent programme deleted by the Metropolitan police following court action, the Guardian can reveal. Following a settlement that remains confidential, the child will see all relevant records deleted, including from the Prevent case management (PCM) database, the existence of which was revealed by the Guardian and Liberty in October. The referring authorities also agreed to correct and delete relevant records. As details of the case are disclosed, the Guardian can reveal that Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (CTPHQ), the Home Office and several police forces across England and Wales have refused to reveal how many individuals are on the database following requests made under the Freedom of Information Act. Source: Family wins fight to delete child from Met’s anti-radicalisation records | Prevent strategy | The Guardian

In October the results of the Extremism Commission’s review of the Extremism Strategy were published. The “Challenging Hateful Extremism” report is critical of the Government’s approach to countering extremism thus far principally due to the expansive way in which “Extremism” is framed and makes the case for a new “Hateful Extremism” definition. I covered my response to this report in my most recent vlog. Adding another definition into this space will add further complexity to an already over-crowded pitch of policy provision which started with the 2015 roll-out of the Extremism Strategy. While the Commission is correct to point out the flaws in the way “Extremism” is currently framed, their solution has been to come up with another definition that is just as ill-conceived in my view. Source: The UK’s “Hateful Extremism” report: more muddled thinking on an already over-crowded pitch | openDemocracy

Sayeeda Warsi has denounced her Conservative party colleague Matt Hancock for “whitesplaining” Islamophobia to her after he suggested “there are others who take a more balanced approach” to the issue. Lady Warsi responded furiously to Hancock, the health secretary, after his comments on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme while addressing the Conservative party’s decision not to hold an inquiry into Islamophobia. Challenged on Warsi’s strident criticism of her own party’s record on discrimination against Muslims, Hancock had said: “Well look, I like Sayeeda. She has a particular view on this, there are others who take a more balanced approach.” Source: Tory Islamophobia row: Warsi accuses Hancock of ‘whitesplaining’ | Islamophobia | The Guardian

Boris Johnson has faced backlash for backtracking on his promise to hold an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in the Tory party. The PM told the BBC there would not be such an inquiry – but instead a “general investigation into prejudice of all kinds”. During the Tory leadership contest, he and other candidates agreed if they won they would hold a specific inquiry into Islamophobia. Source: Boris Johnson faces backlash after pulling Islamophobia inquiry | PoliticsHome.com