RadicalizationU.K.’s anti-radicalization program “sowing mistrust and fear” in Muslim communities: Watchdog

David Anderson QC, the independent reviewer of the U.K.. terrorism laws, said that the government’s flagship anti-radicalization program, Prevent, should be reviewed because it is sowing mistrust and fear in the Muslim community.

Anderson said that the program, particularly its requirement that schools spot and report signs of radicalization in students, has become a “significant source of grievance” among British Muslims, encouraging “mistrust to spread and to fester.”

In his written submission to the Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry into the government’s counterterrorism strategy, Anderson also raised concern that some components of Prevent were “ineffective or being applied in an insensitive or discriminatory manner.”

“It seems to me that Prevent could benefit from independent review,” wrote Anderson, who has no authority to conduct such a review.

He continued: “It is perverse that Prevent has become a more significant source of grievance in affected communities than the police and ministerial powers that are exercised … The lack of transparency in the operation of Prevent encourages rumour and mistrust to spread and to fester.”

Al Jazeera reports that Anderson’sconcerns were shared by expert witnesses who testified before the select committee inquiry at the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Raheel Mohammed, the director of Maslaha, a social enterprise which works to improve conditions in Muslim communities, called for a review of Prevent in schools, warning that it was stigmatizing pupils.

The program was preventing schools from openly discussing and safely addressing issues around extremism, creating an atmosphere of fear, and failing to equip teachers with the skills and training to act on signs of radicalization in pupils, he told the group of MPs.

“Prevent is seen by many educators … [and] by many in the [Muslim] community as being a blunt instrument,” said Mohammed. “What it’s doing is stigmatizing whole communities.

“I don’t think what’s happening in schools right now would help a teacher … to spot signs of extremism.”

Saleha Jaffer, from the Families Against Stress and Trauma (FAST) program, which works with schools and the families of radicalized British Muslims, said Prevent did not give teachers sufficient training and its approach could be superficial and counterproductive.

Al Jazeeranotes that Prevent, part of the government’s overall counterterrorism strategy, Contest, aims to help police and security agencies identify individuals and groups at risk of radicalization from all groups, such as Islamist extremists or the far right.