Muslim religious leaders in one of the most ethnically diverse boroughs in Britain have criticised the government’s programmes to stop people turning to extremism and terrorist violence as “divisive” and leading to a “breakdown in trust”.
In a rare sign of public discontent, east London imams – backed by teachers, community organisations and student unions – have claimed the measures adopted under the anti-radicalisation Prevent scheme and the Counter-Terrorism Act result in “spying on our young people” and lead to “increasing division and to a breakdown of trust in schools and colleges”.
In a statement, religious and community leaders in Newham – who regularly draw thousands of locals into their mosques – warn that the schemes are “exclusively targeting young Muslims for the views they hold on religion or issues such as government foreign policy”.
They claim in recent months that “normal Muslim religious practice” has been openly targeted under the programmes and that this hardening coincided with the council’s hiring of a former director of the Quilliam Foundation, a UK counter-terrorism thinktank that has long argued for a tougher line on non-violent extremism.
Imams point out that earlier this year a school attempted to ban the wearing of the jilbab, a long and loose-fit coat or garment worn by Muslim women, and had to back down after appeals from parents. Another free school, with 200 Muslim students, closed down its prayer room – forcing pupils to pray on Friday in the local parks.
Imam Khalil Laher, who preaches at various mosques in the borough including to an 800-strong congregation and has signed the statement, said: “My biggest problem is that these are normal religious values and for many Muslims are considered obligations of the faith. We have not been consulted about the implementation of Prevent. We have not met any police officers. There’s been nothing on the ground.”
With a third of the population describing themselves as Muslim, Newham has the second highest Islamic demographic in the country. Despite this, community organisations argue, the council appointed the ex-Quilliam Foundation director Ghaffar Hussain as its Prevent officer in December last year.
“We have been concerned because the Quilliam Foundation was such a big supporter of the government’s policy. Is he going to be impartial?” said Tahir Talati, of the thinktank Muslim Engagement and Development, which is backing the imams’ call.
“This month a photographic exhibition looking at Islamophobia was cancelled at the last minute because, apparently, there were concerns over community safety. How can an exhibition about attacks on Muslims be pulled because of safety issues?”
Last week at the home affairs select committee it emerged that the Bradford Council of Mosques asked to reschedule its hearing with MPs because it did not want to share a platform with Quilliam.
Newham, with a population of 308,000 according to the 2011 census, contains the most diverse ward in the country: Plaistow North. This year the council saw an influx of wealthy buyers snap up luxury flats in Olympic village developments – and became the London borough which recorded the fastest rising house prices in the capital.
This successful blend of community cohesion and rising wealth has been undermined in recent months by a spate of reports concerning anti-Muslim attitudes. In the summer, three Muslim A-level students threatened to sue their sixth-form college after they were suspended shortly before sitting their exams for sending an email to students and staff complaining of Islamophobia.
The council said it “has been engaging with the government’s Prevent agenda, utilising a multi-agency approach alongside the police and the voluntary sector, since 2009".
“Prevent is about supporting individuals to stay safe and within the law. This year the government has placed more responsibility on schools to take a lead in this area, so the council supports schools to provide training for teachers and staff, while the police engage with local community organisations.
“It is the responsibility of individual schools to set dress codes and whether to make rooms available for prayer in consultation with pupils, parents, staff and governors. The event, proposed by a primary school, to discuss radicalisation did not take place on the advice of the council.
“The council engages with many local religious organisations as part of our efforts to bring residents together as one community. Last year the council organised a faith conference, attended by more than 140 representatives from different faiths, where organisations were encouraged to build closer ties with each other and the council. We are planning to host a similar event early next year.”