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