In the latest instalment of our series, The Human Voices of the War on Terror, a college student, Yousaf Farooq, tells us how he was pulled aside and questioned by staff implementing PREVENT, who were completely ignorant about the Islamic figures and concepts they were questioning him about in the first place. Read more
In 2015, a new statutory duty was placed upon universities across the UK: to remain vigilant to signs of extremism. A set of guidelines, dubbed "Prevent", were introduced to oblige universities to carry out risk assessments on the chances of students being drawn into "extremism", as well as to train staff on how to "challenge
The latest PREVENT statistics show that 95% of referrals are unnecessary and Muslims remain 50 times more likely to be referred. This means it is more akin to a mass surveillance tool, which renders the safeguarding rationale obsolete and instead borders on harassment of a whole community. Read more
The UK's Tory security minister last night accused the SNP as being 'shameful' for advising teachers against using the phrase 'British values' when discussing terrorism with pupil as it may be deemed offensive Read more
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180407-students-march-against-prevent-at-the-university-of-westminster/#.WsjdZGxMLKo.twitter
I find myself inclined to agree with those who have raised concerns about Prevent; my very brief interaction with it left me and my colleagues with little trust in it to prevent anything, and if such sentiments are indeed more widespread, then politicians and counter-extremism champions need to stop patting themselves on the back and
Ed McNally argues that reforms to our university, including its democratisation and decolonisation, are impossible while Prevent is still in action at Cambridge Source: Prevent is inhibiting genuine reforms to our university | Varsity
Screening all mental health patients for radicalisation under the Prevent strategy is stigmatising and will only deter people who need help. Source: I’m a doctor, not a counter-terrorism operative. Let me do my job | Adrian James | Opinion | The Guardian
Report into impact of Prevent in healthcare system also cites examples of referrals linked to watching Arabic-language news and undertaking Hajj Source: NHS workers confuse 'interest in Middle East' with radicalisation: Report | Middle East Eye