Rania Hafez: The policy categorises radicalization, signs of radicalization, as showing either vocal or active opposition to British values, to fundamental British values. Two of these British values are democracy and the rule of law. How these are interpreted, so if you actually question democracy, and you're a Muslim, are you showing a sign of being radicalised? The fact is, democracy is something we can debate and discuss and write lots of books about and it's not one thing or the other. The same thing with the rule of law.

And to actually then define radicalisation, as anyone who even gives vocal opposition to this is also in one fell swoop, denying freedom of speech and freedom of thought. And as an educationalist I am completely wedded to freedom of thought and speech. This is the vocation of my life. So there are many, many aspects of Prevent that are problematic.
Discrimination, Institutions, Justice

Is the way the UK government define radicalisation fair? (Clip)

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Published on 18 Jul 2022

Prevent is a controversial aspect of the government’s anti-terrorism strategy, that many argue puts at risk the rights and freedoms of people – particularly Muslims – across the UK. This film explores the issues with Prevent, the government’s review of it and why 17 human rights organisations decided to boycott that review after Sir William Shawcross was appointed to lead it.

It features interviews with: Rania Hafez, senior education lecturer at the University of Greenwich, who tells us about how Prevent has impacted the education sector. Dr Shazad Amin, Deputy Chair of MEND (Muslim Engagement and Development), who provides an overall context of the issues with Prevent, and why MEND (along with 16 other organisations) signed up to the aforementioned boycott. And finally an anonymous story of a mother whose son was referred to Prevent at just 11 years old.

In this clip we explore how radicalisation is categorised under Prevent. You can watch the full film here. 

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