Birmingham community leader criticises government’s anti-terror Prevent programme

Mashkura Begum features in a special Dispatches programme to be aired on Channel 4 tonight
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A Birmingham community leader has criticised the government’s anti-terror Prevent programme for “failing to stop radicalisation”, and claimed that the strategy has instead “sowed the seeds of suspicion and contempt towards ordinary Muslims”.

Mashkura Begum, chair of community empowerment organisation Saathi House, based in Aston, features in a special Dispatches programme to be aired on Channel 4 tonight (18 April) which explores failures in the Prevent programme.

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A part of the government’s Counter Terrorism Policing, the aim of the initiaitve was to prevent vulnerable people from being drawn into extremism.

But following the sentencing of 25-year-old Ali Harbi Ali last week for the murder of 69-year-old father of three David Amess MP, Mashkura expressed alarm of the government programme.

“Prevent is looking in the wrong places,” she claimed.

“There are a small minority of people from all walks of life and backgrounds being radicalised and gravitating towards acts of terror or terror related crime.

“These individuals are often radicalised online, in prisons or abroad; not in our community centres, schools or average UK Muslim households.

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“The government’s anti-terror strategy has led to sowing seeds of suspicion and contempt towards the Muslim community and this has caused irreparable damage to how our children navigate and find their way in the world.”

According to a teacher also being featured in tonight’s Dispatches programme, her reporting of extremist Ali Harbi Ali to Prevent before he murdered David Amess MP was “not taken seriously.”

Sir David Amess who was brutally murdered last yearSir David Amess who was brutally murdered last year
Sir David Amess who was brutally murdered last year

Speaking to Channel 4 Home Affairs Correspondent Darshna Soni, the teacher described how Harbi Ali was previously a bright pupil but became increasingly withdrawn, his demeanor changing negatively, recalling “his eyes were dead”.

Concerned, the teacher claims they referred Ali to Prevent but was later told he was not deemed a threat.

Community leader says Prevent has been a ‘total failure’

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Mashkura Begum added: “Prevent has been a total failure, in fact one would say it’s been toxic and should be scrapped.

“The whole reason that Prevent was brought into force was supposedly to safeguard citizens and identify those surreptitious individuals within our midst. It would be interesting to see whether we saw any decrease in terrorist activities as a result, we will wait.”

The Government says Prevent has deradicalised 3,000 individuals since 2006. But Jonathan Hall, its independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, tells the programme: “There is no evidence that our deradicalisation programmes work.”

‘Prevent has changed and saved the lives of individuals from all walks of life’

In response, a government spokesman, said:Terrorism is a horrendous crime that destroys lives. It has a devastating impact on individuals, communities and the very fabric of our society. We remember those who have been killed or had their lives changed forever due to terrorist attacks.

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“The Government would be failing in its duty if we did not try and divert people away from violence and while no system will produce perfect outcomes, we have been successful in stopping people from becoming terrorists.

“Prevent has changed and saved the lives of individuals from all walks of life, with over 3,000 people led away from radicalisation and supported through the Channel programme.

“It is always right that we learn lessons and improve our approach. That is why an Independent Review is in progress to assess how Prevent works, the impact of the programme, and how we can continue to develop our approach to protect people from radicalisation in future.”

‘Dispatches: Are We Losing The War On Terror?’ will be broadcast on Channel 4 today (Monday 18 April 2022) at 7.30pm.

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