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Kelly sets out action plan to isolate and defeat extremists

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT News Release (076) issued by The Government News Network on 5 April 2007

A new action plan to step-up work with Muslim communities to isolate, prevent and defeat violent extremism was published today by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly.

New proposals in Preventing Violent Extremism - Winning hearts and minds include strengthening governance in mosques to make them less susceptible to takeover by minority groups, extending provision of citizenship education and measures to support communities strengthen Muslim and theological leadership to better connect with young British Muslims. A new independent study into radicalisation in local communities by Muslim academic Tufyal Choudhury from Durham University was published alongside the action plan. It makes clear that the traditional religious leadership need a new approach to counter radicalisation and better connect with young people. While the report says there are some encouraging signs a new 'British Muslim' identity is forming in reaction and opposition to violent radicalism it makes clear that the extremist tactics still involve targeting vulnerable young people searching for identity during times of crisis.

Responding to these challenges Ruth Kelly set out a plan for tackling violent extremism, which will mean -

* Strengthening leadership and governance in mosques up and down the country. We will set-out the new role for the Charity Commission in improving governance, and will announce £600,000 to create a new Faith and Social Cohesion Unit within the Commission to drive this.

* A framework of new standards for imams engaged by the state who will go into areas where individuals are susceptible to extremism such as prisons and universities.

* Helping communities build stronger civic and religious leadership to face down extremism. We will set-up and back projects both nationally and locally, announcing work with academic institutions to develop new leadership courses and support greater community training projects.

* Rolling out good practice guidance nationally to encourage the teaching of citizenship in madrassahs and supplementary schools,.

* Strengthening the role of women and a major expansion in the number of local 'Forums Against Extremism' - from 12 to over 40 nationally by April 2008.

* Announcing £6million of new allocations to around 70 local communities to prevent extremism on the ground. This includes funding for programmes working with those who may be vulnerable to extremist messages - for example, helping young people to build the confidence and understanding to turn their back on violent extremism, programmes promoting leadership training for imams and Muslim women and enabling communities to identify and tackle extremism where it emerges.

In a speech in central London Ruth Kelly praised communities like Oldham and Barking for their work to isolate and reject messages of hate from the far right. She said that we also need to step up our efforts against the far right, against Islamophobia, against anti-semitism - anything that prevents British citizens going about their daily lives free from intimidation or persecution.

Ruth Kelly said:

"I do not under-estimate the difficulties we face or the scale of this challenge. But I know from my conversations with Muslim communities up and down the country that the desire and commitment to tackle extremism is there.

"Success today will hinge on forging a new alliance against violent extremism. We need to reach out and give greater support to the overwhelming majority who are disgusted by terrorist attacks carried out in the name of Islam.

"The good sense and decency of the vast majority of people in this country has ensured no type of extremism has ever got a mainstream foothold here. But we need to make sure those who stand up, don't stand alone. We need to support the silent majority, backing the courageous individuals and communities who refuse to be intimidated by the violent extremists.

"Our action plan will do this. It sets out how new training opportunities will help imams take on the extremists' messages, it signals a step change in madrassahs' role in teaching citizenship and it supports strong and inclusive governance of mosques with a new role for the Charity Commission.

"We need to support people in building communities where extremism is resolutely tackled and isolated, and where all doors are shut to those who seek division and violence."

Notes for Editors

Ruth Kelly has had a series of meetings over recent weeks and months with people across Muslim communities in developing the new approach. They have included leading Muslim scholars, academics and theologians as well as Muslim women and young people from all different traditions and schools of thought - Sunni, Shia, Sufi, Progressive and more.

The action plan Preventing Violent Extremism - Winning hearts and minds can be accessed at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1509398

Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder Fund 2007/2008 - Case studies can be accessed at http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1509402

The Role of Muslim Identity Politics in Radicalisation (a study in progress) can be accessed at http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1509391

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News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk