Supplementary Written Evidence for the Home Affairs Select Committee: Countering
Extremism Inquiry
Following on from the oral evidence Inspire gave on the 17th November 2015 we would like
to provide additional comments and a more detailed response to some of the questions
raised by members of the Committee.
1. In relation to Inspire’s independence
1.1 The MP for Bradford West Naz Shah suggested we are not an independent organisation.
1.2 Inspire is a counter-extremism and women’s rights organisation founded in 2009 by
British Muslim women. It is an independent non-governmental civil society organisation. All
decisions in relation to Inspire’s remit and work are made solely by the directors; all projects
and activities are led and carried out by the Inspire team. This has been the case since our
inception. We therefore refute the suggestion that Inspire is not independent. The
proposition that because government has recognised our work cannot mean we are
independent is not a reasonable argument.
2. In relation to evidence of our work
2.1 The MP for Bradford West asked us to provide tangible evidence of our work prior to
2011. We do not recognise the significance of 2011 in Naz Shah’s question and we assume it is because she mistakenly believes we have received direct Home Office funding from
2011. For the importance of clarity and accuracy, it is important for us to say this is not true.
Inspire have not or ever received core funding directly from the Home Office. Funding we
have received has been for project funding for our Making A Stand campaign which was
launched in 2014 and ended in 2015 as is stated on the Inspire website. Prior to our Making
A Stand campaign in 2014 we have not received direct funding from the Home Office.
We therefore are providing evidence of our work between 2009 - 2014 (pre-ISIS) and 2014 –
December 2015.
2.2 Between 2009 - 2014 (pre-ISIS)
Inspire has:
1
Delivered a number of national conferences including a two day conference in
London entitled Speaking in God’s Name: Re-examining Gender in Islam1 in 2011
which brought together leading theologians, activists and academics to discuss and
debate the pressing issue of gender and Islam. Experts included Dr Khaled Abou el
Fadl, Professor Mona Siddiqui, Dr Ziba Mir Hosseini, Mukhtar Mai and others.
Speeches and interviews are all available to view online. The conference focussed
on five key areas of women’s empowerment which included:
Theology, religion and society
Patriarchal interpretations of the texts and their impact through history
Understanding sexuality, gender and their relationship
Qur’anic ideas around private and public roles
Knowledge, religious authority and Muslim women
The conference provided a powerful and credible discourse to challenge the
conservative stronghold on gender roles and aimed to challenge theological
interpretations which justify discrimination often endured by Muslim women.
Feedback received from participants described the event overall as a resounding
success both in terms of the delivery and the content of the programme. Many spoke
of the necessity of such a programme and how they had been inspired that the
women’s rights agenda was being brought to the forefront at such a high profile
event.
Launched a Jihad Against Violence (JAV) campaign in 2011 in partnership with
WISE, a US Muslim women’s organisation led by Daisy Khan. Jihad Against
Violence encouraged women and men to stand up to all forms of violence, to
educate and raise awareness, and to challenge those who perversely use Islam to
incite or carry out terrorism and violence against women and girls. Our campaign
was launched during the Arab Spring and within two weeks of launching JAV people
from over 32 countries signed the JAV Declaration2 which also generated
international press coverage.
Countered the comments made by Anjem Choudary in 2010 who threatened to take
empty coffins into Wootton Bassett. Inspire in partnership with Muslim women
organised a memorial service at the National Memorial Arboretum to commemorate
1
2
http://www.wewillinspire.com/speaking-in-gods-name-re-examining-gender-in-islam/
http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/british-muslim-women-launch-jihad-against-violence
2
all those who have fallen since World War 1. The Support our Soldiers charity and
the Armed Forces Muslim Association also supported the event. The mother of
Lance-Corporal Jabron Hashmi, the British Muslim soldier who was killed in action in
Afghanistan in 2006 also attended. Muslim women led a wreath laying ceremony to
pay our respects3 to British soldiers who have laid down their lives for our country,
and to show solidarity with the families and communities who have lost loved ones.
A number of British Muslim extremists responded with abusive and threatening
language. However as British Muslim citizens we wanted to send out a strong
message of solidarity, and to distance ourselves from Anjem Choudary and Al
Muhajiroun. This issue mattered to the British public and it was the most read news
item on the BBC website4 that day.
Commented on:
forced marriages5 and honour based violence6 including the Shafilea Ahmed
murder
child sexual exploitation7 and grooming8
anti-Muslim prejudice9 and attacks experienced by Muslim women10
discrimination experienced by British Muslim women11 and the lack of access,
representation and facilities at some British mosques12
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At the service Kalsoom Bashir said: “We are here as ordinary members of the community. We have come
together as women to show our respect for those young men and women that have died serving our country.
We want to show that the grief of a mother losing her son is shared, and that the loyalty of those who have
been lost is remembered. There have been other organisations – that represent nobody – who have tried to
hijack the message from UK Muslim communities. We are here to claim it back. There was a strong feeling of
disgust in the Muslim communities that anyone would try to exploit the grief of families at Wootton Bassett.
We thought that this was an appropriate way to show our respects. We are very grateful to AFMA for joining
us.”
Group Captain Zahur Ulhaq from Armed Forces Muslim Association said: “There is a strong history of Muslims playing an integrated role in the UK armed forces. It is important to recognise the contribution that these
communities have made, and continue to make, to the security and defence of the UK.”
http://www.wewillinspire.com/british-muslim-women-pay-respects-to-soldiers-who-have-laid-down-theirlives-for-their-country/
4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10498482
5
http://www.wewillinspire.com/?s=forced+marriages
6
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/aug/03/shafilea-ahmed-death-tragedy-women-fate
7
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2012/11/what-does-our-society-say-about-women-and-girls
8
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/voices/2012/05/after-rochdale
9
http://www.wewillinspire.com/?s=Islamophobia
10
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11848780/Islamophobic-Britain-Muslim-women-arespat-on-and-covered-in-faeces.html
11
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2012/apr/28/female-british-muslimsvoice?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038
12
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/cathy-newman-being-ushered-out-of-a-mosque-was-aninnocent-mix-up-if-only-the-same-was-true-for-the-10020259.html
3
the advice given by some British sharia councils13 to vulnerable women who are
experiencing domestic violence, divorce, polygamy14 and custody of children
discriminatory gender segregation policies15
inequitable interpretations (as opposed to egalitarian interpretations) of Sharia
inheritance wills16.
Delivered countering extremism and gender empowerment programmes to Muslim
women in partnership with a number of local authorities across the country for
example Wandsworth (2013), Leeds (2012-2013), Portsmouth (2011), Watford
(2010) and Redbridge (2009).
2.2 The Home Affairs Select Committee asked us to provide information from our
evaluation reports. The following bullet points are taken from the Leeds evaluation
report highlighting the training programme and its impact on women who participated.
The impact of the Wandsworth training is also included. The training delivered to women
in 2012 and 2013 was in relation to Al-Qaida inspired terrorism:
Leeds
The success of our Women’s Safeguarding Awareness Programme was Inspire’s ability to connect with some of the most marginalised and voiceless Muslim women in hard
to reach South Asian communities. Since the London bombings in 2005, the majority
of participant had never had the opportunity to discuss openly why young men from
their community, who were similar in ages to their brothers or sons, would carry out
such an horrific act of terrorism. Three of the four July 2005 London bombings were
from Leeds; Hasib Hussain and Shehzad Tanweer lived two streets away from some of
the participants yet no-one had engaged with these women directly or sought to hear
their views.
13
http://www.wewillinspire.com/inspire-press-statement-panorama-secrets-of-britains-sharia-councilsmonday-22nd-april-2013/
14
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2012/may/04/muslim-marriages-must-be-registered
15
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/segregating-men-and-women-at-university-events-wontlead-to-equality-8962984.html
16
http://www.wewillinspire.com/inspire-statement-on-the-withdrawal-of-the-law-societys-practice-note-onsharia-wills/
4
The women attendees were representative of the South Asian Muslim diaspora in
towns and cities across the UK. As the Office of National Statistics indicate, Muslim
women not only have high rates of unemployment and poor health, they also have
considerable low qualifications. As observed by Inspire, many of the participants
expressed low self-esteem, lack of assertiveness and little confidence. Many women
had long term depression and were taking anti-depressants.
The ability to
communicate effectively in the English language was another impediment as well as
wider society’s inability to understand the social, religious and cultural expectations
that often debilitate these women. South Asian women are more likely to suffer
severe abuse, and over a longer period of time than white women and experience
higher rates of suicide and self-harm. These British women face multiple barriers and
injustices: racism in society, denial of basic human rights in the home, patriarchy in
their communities, and almost zero engagement with external stakeholders.
Yet it is these very women we look to, to help safeguard the communities to which
they belong. When such women face phenomenal barriers in their daily lives, to what
extent will they be able to contribute successfully in building resilient communities?
Will these factors also increase their own vulnerability to the extremist narrative?
Their communities are deemed high risk as indicated by central government and as
articulated by the women at the Hamara centre; intolerant and extreme views were
common among young people in Beeston.
Inspire believe that women must be part of the solution in combatting extremism but
a broader holistic approach is needed if a real lasting counter-extremism strategy is to
work. Some women it was noted were not able to attend the programme as the men
and other women in their families denied them the right to make their own decisions;
some women as expressed by the participants, are not even allowed to leave the four
walls of their home.
These are women who belong to even harder to reach
households. Yet in combatting extremism, it is precisely these women who need to
be reached; ‘some of the women who needed to be at this course weren’t here because they weren’t allowed out,’ expressed participants.
5
Prior to the programme, the participants had little if any Islamic education and/or
exposure to theological counter-narratives to extremist ideology. As Muslim women,
the ability to access contextualised interpretations of Islam, relevant to the 21st
century from a Western perspective has always been difficult. It is reflective of the
current failings of British Muslim leadership and organisations in being able to provide
such interpretations and in developing means of educating British Muslims. Coupled
with the barriers described earlier, this could increase the vulnerability of Muslim
women themselves to the extremist narrative. As the report shows, a small minority
of women professed worrying views including homophobia, anti-Semitism and the
belief that the killings of apostates was mandated by Islam. When asked about
September 11th, a minority of women advocated conspiracy theories and described
Al-Qaida as “fiction.”
The programme analysed the religious, political and ideological outlook from 7th
century Khawarij, 11th-13th century Ismaili Assassins, upto modern day al-Qaida. The
extremist narrative espoused by Abdullah Yusuf Azzam, Usama Bin Laden, Anwar al
Awlaki and others was dissected. The threat of the jihadist movement was examined
and the possible vulnerabilities that may be exploited to hook young people into an
Al-Qaida mindset were discussed. Profiles of British Muslim terrorists were examined
to underscore the reality of the threat. An overview was given of messages and
methods used for recruitment by extremist organisations, which included the use of
false dichotomies of ‘Islamic values v British values’, the Al Qaida narrative of a global conspiracy of oppression and double standards towards Muslims by the West and the
decontextualised use of medieval precedents.
The training delivered dispelled the belief that militant jihad is compulsory on all
Muslims as articulated by Al-Qaida. The session also examined the development of
rulings on Dar al Islam/Dar al kuffr (the world of Islam v the world of unbelief) between
the 8th and 12th centuries and how this binary view became increasingly untenable
and unrealistic; jurists arguing that the real abode of Islam existed wherever justice
existed (Dar al ‘adl). Islamic theology was highlighted how the duty to the British state
as British citizens is a sacred contract which must be respected.
6
It was noted that in the absence of Muslim institutions or mosques in educating
Muslim women on theological counter-narratives to extremist propaganda, it is
directly because of Prevent funding and the foresight of local authorities like Leeds
City Council to engage with Muslim women, that these women were better educated
and equipped in being able to counter extremist ideology. As one woman stated, “if I knew this information ten years ago when my children were teenagers, I would have
taught them about the issues raised in this course. This is the first time I’ve been educated on such a crucial and important topic.” As a result of our programme,
Muslim women wanted to actively do more to reclaim their faith from violent
extremists who they felt had hijacked Islam to commit acts of terror.
Outcomes of the Leeds Women’s Safeguarding Awareness Programme
(2013):
Objective 1: Challenge extremist ideology, prevent women from being drawn into
terrorism and support mainstream voices by providing women with the necessary
skills to address issues within their communities with confidence.
100% of participants agreed the course empowered them with knowledge and skills
to challenge extremist ideology and to support mainstream voices within their
communities with confidence
There was a significant increase in participants knowledge and understanding of
extremist ideology as a direct result of the course
Objective 2: Build community resilience by enabling women to be more proactive
members within community structures such as mosques, cultural centres and
educational centres.
After the course there was a 60% (Echo Community Centre) and 54% (Hamara
Community Centre) increase in how important participants felt tackling extremism is
91% of participants at Echo and 100% of participants at Hamara believed the course
inspired them to be more active members within community organisations such as the
Echo and Hamara centres and other institutions
Objective 3: Support vulnerable individuals by educating women who have an
important relationship with the individual concerned
7
100% of participants agreed the course equipped them to support vulnerable
individuals they may come across within their family or communities
Wandsworth (2013):
Inspire deployed an appropriate and effective methodology to assess the effectiveness of
the Empowering Women Countering Extremism training programme to measure:
i.
The overall delivery and achievement of the project objectives and outcomes
ii.
How engaged the participants were and how empowered they felt to be able to deal
with vulnerabilities that leads to radicalisation in young people
iii.
The suitability of the programme content and the delivery methods
iv.
The distance travelled in knowledge and understanding by participants
Outcomes of the Wandsworth Empowering Women Countering Extremism
Programme:
1.
Participants understanding of extremism increased substantially. The average
increase for each participant on a scale of 0-10 went from 5.4 to 9.1
2.
As a result of the course, participants had a greater concern in tackling
extremism. The average increase for each participant on a scale of 0-10 went
from 8.6 to 9.7.
3.
Participants understanding of the Prevent Strategy also increased. Prior to the
course only 40% of participants had a positive view of Prevent; this increased to
100% at the end of the course.
4.
100% of participants agreed that the course had inspired them to take a more
active role within their community. They felt more confident in supporting
vulnerable individuals they may come across within their family or communities.
They also believed the course highlighted key challenges that face British Muslim
women today.
8
Feedback from Wandsworth participants: Are Muslim
institutions doing enought to educate youth on theological
counter-narratives to extremist ideology?
Yes
No
90%
When asked, 90% of Muslim women who attended Inspire’s Wandsworth countering extremism programme did not believe Muslim institutions were doing enough to
educate young people on theological counter-narratives to extremist ideology.
Participants were at pains to point out that there is a lack of credible Islamic
education available and lack of role models for young Muslims. Many felt the issue
of belonging and British identity was still a live issue and that the “us V them” mentality was actually growing.
Feedback from Wandsworth participants: Are Muslim
institutions doing enough to tackle misogyny and gender
discrimination within its communities?
11%
Yes
No
89%
When asked 89% of Muslim women who attended Inspire’s Wandworth countering extremism programme did not believe Muslim institutions are doing enough to
tackle misogyny and gender discrimination within its communities.
Some of the comments from Wandsworth participants at the end of the course:
9
“I now have a better understanding of why individuals can be radicalised”
“I learnt a lot of examples and ways in which to deal with this”
“I carry out Prevent work in my community but it was great to understand women’s roles”
“Before this course I wasn’t that much aware of different forms of radicalisation and the reasons to why they would act the way they do”
“Understanding and talking to other people to open your eyes to other ways of thinking”
“It’s been really great and helpful how I’ve understood about extremism and radicalisation”
“There were many aspects of the lessons which I did not fully understand (previously) so I do believe that attending all the classes helped me fill in the missing knowledge. THANKS.”
“Learnt lots of information about extremism in this course even though I studied International politics.
I now want to do more to prevent it as it is possible to prevent.”
“I’ve learnt over the last few weeks that it’s very important to talk about these issues.”
“This course has motivated me to take action.”
“It was good to meet Ahmadiyya Muslims – there are a lot of misconceptions but we should
be inclusive and have dialogue amongst people of different beliefs and perspectives and not
be intolerant.”
2.3 Evidence of Inspire’s work between 2014- December 2015:
2.3.1 Making A Stand
We are grateful to the Home Office for supporting our campaign. After the
declaration of ISIS’s so-called caliphate Muslim mothers were contacting us directly
concerning fears that their children may become radicalised by ISIS propaganda,
Inspire approached the Home Office. Their support enabled us to reach Muslim
women in over 9 cities across England and Wales which:
a) taught women theological counter-narratives to extremist ideology
b) helped them to recognise early signs of radicalisation
c) signposted them to external agencies who could provide help to vulnerable
individuals in their family or community
d) encouraged them to take the lead in challenging extremism in their communities and
to exert influence in their mosques and communities.
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2.3 The impact of the Making A Stand campaign is evident from the testimonials from
Muslim women who participated in the events. The Making A Stand wall17 on the Inspire
website documents 25 Muslim women who have commented on Making A Stand after they
attended local events.
A sample of some of the testimonials are set out below:
Gina
“Making A Stand is important because Muslim women need a space to talk about these
things, things around misogyny, Islam, freedom of speech, extremism and discuss what we
can do to bring change. If you empower Muslim women you watch what will happen,
especially as we are mothers, daughters, sisters, and we see what is happening in our
community. We are an example to our children, we are the role models teaching them about
a plural Islam, how to live in a British country and what their identity is, we are the parents
who need to do this with our children. Maybe we need to get our heads out of the sand now
and not think that this somebody else’s problem and that we ourselves have to make a difference, we ourselves have to speak out whether through schools, the police or local
authorities, we have to make a stand for ourselves in a positive way. That is why I am
Making A Stand.”
Nadiya
“I am Making A Stand in education as I feel that is the biggest gift we can give our children a balanced sound education. I am extremely worried about radicalisation and extremism. It
is one of the biggest threats facing Great Britain in terms of security and child protection.
Making A Stand is massively important and should be to every individual who has a
responsibility towards our society and community. I hope that we can do more for the
children of Great Britain, I hope the schools, teachers and teaching establishments will work
a little harder to help prevent young ones going to Syria, and I think it is very important that
we put the Great back into Great Britain for many minority communities which is why I am
Making A Stand against extremism and radicalisation.”
Vanisha
“Making A Stand means to me having a conversation about extremism something we don’t talk about on a day to day basis. Having the opportunity to challenge it is really important
because it is our people, our community and it’s an opportunity to take it head on and do
something about it. Women see other women who are thinking and feeling the exact same
17
http://www.wewillinspire.com/making-a-stand/mas-wall/.
11
thing but we’ve never taken the step forward to do it because we are scared to do it alone. But if there are ten of us who are wanting to take that step together we are so much more
powerful. Coming to this event has inspired me to do that whether that means setting up a
women’s group, or encouraging more women, or talking about it and having their our heard in the community. That’s why I am Making A Stand.”
An op-ed Sara Khan wrote for the Observer18 after the Making a Stand campaign highlighted
how Sunni, Shia, and Ahmadiyya denominations were reached including women from
Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Somali, Arab, English, Welsh and Kurdish backgrounds. In order to
reach mothers who did not speak English, some of the local programmes had to be
translated into a number of different languages including Arabic and Punjabi. Young women,
mothers and grandmothers all attended. Women raised concerns around language barriers,
identity and faith institutions inability to teach counter-narratives.
2.3.2
Other work delivered by Inspire between 2014 - December 2015:
Produced social media videos and resources19 to discourage20 British Muslim
youth from joining ISIS, including a letter to young girls considering leaving the
UK for ISIS21. Our resources have been viewed thousands of times. Our Boko
Haram video focusing on the role of Islamist extremists in denying women’s
rights, for example has been viewed over 75’000 times on YouTube.
Delivered training to approximately 3000 teachers and schools across the country
on how to safeguard children from extremism whether far right or Islamist. Some
of the requests came directly from schools and other training events were
conducted in in partnership with the Association of Schools and College Leaders.
Undertook over 200 local, national and international media interviews
commenting on ISIS propaganda, British Muslims travelling to Syria and wider
extremism issues following unprecedented national and global events. For
example Sara Khan wrote an op-ed for the Observer22 after ISIS murdered Alan
Henning. After the Tunisian massacre when 30 British citizens were murdered,
18
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/29/british-muslim-communities-women-facechallenge-extremism
19
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSiHUyvTM1E
20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4hzALZKC-Q
21
http://www.wewillinspire.com/a-letter-to-young-muslim-girls-if-you-are-considering-leaving-the-uk-to-joinisis/
22
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/05/unite-defeat-isis-revolting-perversion-islam
12
Inspire wrote The Sun’s Manifesto Against Hate23 which was positively received
by many British Muslims. Media interviews have included Sky News, Good
Morning Britain, CNN Amanpour, ITV’s Loose Women, BBC News, Radio 4’s Today Programme, Radio 4 Woman’s Hour, Asian Express and Channel 4 News.
Developed free online countering extremism resources24 with London Grid for
Learning, a consortium made up of the 33 London local authorities and 2,500
schools, which provide extensive ICT services.
3
Chairman Keith Vaz suggested that Naz Shah’s line of questioning was not a personal attack on Inspire. We politely disagree.
3.1 Naz Shah in an article for BuzzFeed25 published on Oct 26th 2015, three weeks before
we gave evidence, claimed that Inspire was one of “the most loathed organisations amongst Muslim communities.” She then went on to say “They can’t be working otherwise we wouldn’t have this problem [of people travelling to join ISIS],” “They’re clearly not working so why are we re-funding them?”
3.2 The day before Inspire were due to give evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee,
Naz Shah retweeted the article written by journalist Siraj Datoo about Inspire
https://twitter.com/dats/status/666318111700832257. It is difficult therefore for us to accept
that Naz Shah was not being personal. We believe the comments made by Naz Shah to
Buzzfeed were inappropriate, personal and factually incorrect for four reasons.
3.2.1
It is disappointing that before making such comments, Naz Shah in her respected
position as a Member of Parliament did not approach us directly to learn more about
our work. We would have been more than happy to inform her in depth about our
work. Inspire since 2009 has been positively received by many Muslim women,
youth and parents as well as schools and other public and voluntary bodies across
the country. We continue to receive messages of support from across a wide section
of the British public. By making such comments, Naz Shah does a great disservice
to British Muslims and statutory agencies who have directly benefited from our advice
23
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/6527089/The-Sun-launches-manifesto-against-hate.html
http://www.lgfl.net/esafety/Pages/counter-extremism.aspx
25
http://www.buzzfeed.com/sirajdatoo/inspire-quilliam-should-be-grilled-by-home-affairscommittee#.iqJ3zzXO1
24
13
and training. We would be more than happy to host Naz Shah or any other member
of the Home Affairs Select Committee to one of our training programmes.
3.2.2
Inevitably the work we do in countering extremism and challenging gender inequality
will result in Islamists and some anti human rights Muslim groups despising what we
do. We make no apologies for promoting a British Islam and an egalitarian
interpretation of Islam. Nor will we stop promoting the values of freedom, equality,
human rights and freedom of speech just because some Muslims oppose what we
do. We would ask Naz Shah what is it about Inspire specifically, whether our work or
the values we stand for that she felt it was justified to tell Buzzfeed that we are “the
most loathed?”
3.2.3
As mentioned on the 17th November, Inspire does not have funding for an office and
currently only have two full time staff, both of whom work from their homes. The
suggestion that our small organisation which is under resourced and lacks
manpower, and which has received no core funding directly from the Home Office is
now responsible for people travelling to join ISIS is unreasonable and misplaced. It
unfortunately highlights little understanding of how for decades in the United
Kingdom fundamentalist and Islamist extremist ideologies were being promoted and
which continue to be promoted to Muslim communities in the UK.
3.2.4
Instead of focussing attention on which groups, preachers and institutions have been
responsible for radicalising British Muslims, Shah instead seemed to attach blame to
Inspire despite our full efforts in challenging Islamist extremism with the limited
resources available to us. The huge challenge that lies ahead in countering Islamist
extremism in this country cannot be placed on a handful of organisations. Andrew
Parker the Director General of MI5 has stated that “the threat we are facing today is on a scale and at a tempo that I have not seen before in my [32 year] career.”
Inspire believe that in light of the unprecedented global threat from Islamist
extremism, everyone in our country from government, the police, faith institutions,
universities, schools, to ordinary members of the public have a role in working
together to challenge extremism. This threat from ISIS, Al Qaida and other terrorist
organisations will require our determined effort over the next decade. Despite the
struggles our small organisation faces which is not (nor has claimed to be) a
representative body, a mosque or a faith institution Inspire is trying to play its small
part. We note that CAGE at HASC on the 17th November reaffirmed their praise for
14
the suicide bombing attack carried out by a British Muslim citizen which was reported
to have been instigated by Jabhat al-Nusra, a group affiliated with al-Qaida.
4
Understanding the wider negative discourse around Prevent
4.1 There is a wider and regressive discourse about Prevent and Muslim counter-extremism
initiatives. Too often assumptions are made about how much government funding has
been given to organisations like Inspire without evidence, but also that by accepting
government funding, this results in Muslim organisations often experiencing
disproportionate attacks and abuse including suggestions that they are ‘house Muslims’ ‘government stooges’ ‘native informants’ who ‘promote Islamophobia’ despite so much of
our work challenging Islamophobia.
4.2 Unlike others, we do not accept the poor argument rooted in anti-Western sentiment by
some Muslims that government funding makes you a “sellout,” or someone who has “sold their faith (deen.)” We are British citizens and we are concerned about the threat extremism poses not only to families and communities but also to our country. Many
Muslim parents have come to us directly asking for help and advice as they are fearful
about their own children being vulnerable to radicalisation. We recognise the need for a
Prevent strategy and are willing to work with the government in seeking to prevent
people from being drawn into extremism. This does not mean we will not voice our
disagreements on issues around Prevent and indeed any other aspect of government
policy.
We also believe the government has a duty to work with a wide range of Muslim voices,
to prevent young people from being drawn into violent extremism. Yet the poisonous
narrative that has been peddled by certain Muslim organisations including MEND around
government funding and inaccuracies about the Prevent Strategy itself does little to
actually address extremism and serves only as a distraction. This does not serve the
interests of our national security, Muslim families whose children have become
radicalised, and UK communities.
We would encourage those politicians who endorse and share platforms with MEND
including Naz Shah to question why such groups have deliberately lied about Inspire to
Muslim communities and have sought to mislead people about our work.
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It highlights the challenges civil society organisations experience when Islamist and antiPrevent groups deliberately seek to discredit counter extremism work. We would
suggest the Home Affairs Select Committee examine more closely the narrative and
tactics of the anti-Prevent lobby.
Finally we would like to note that ISIS continue to encourage Western Muslims to instigate
mass casualty attacks in their respective countries. Inspire’s counter-extremism work has
been to safeguard families from radicalisation, help protect our national security, empower
Muslim women, and build bridges with UK communities at a time of growing anti-Muslim
hatred and Islamist extremism.
We would like to thank the Home Affairs Select Committee for giving us the opportunity to
provide both oral and written evidence.
Sara Khan and Kalsoom Bashir
5th January 2016
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