Commission for Countering Extremism
The Commission for Countering Extremism is a legal body set up by the British Conservative government in 2018 'to stamp out extremist ideology in all its forms'.
It is tasked with identifying and challenging extremism, advising ministers on new policies and promoting 'pluralistic British values'.
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Controversy over choice of new extremism tsar
In January 2018 home secretary Amber Rudd announced she had appointed campaigner Sara Khan to lead the commission, prompting strong criticism from politicians such as Baroness Warsi and Labour MP Naz Shah as well as Muslim groups. [2]
Former Tory chairwoman Sayeeda Warsi called it 'a deeply disturbing appointment', tweeting:
- Sara has unfortunately been a strong advocate of the government’s policy of disengagement, a policy which many, including members of the police and intelligence services, consider has damaged the important battle to engage Britain’s Muslim communities. For the commissioner to be effective the person had to be an independent thinker, both connected to and respected by a cross-section of British Muslims. Sara is sadly seen by many as simply a creation of and mouthpiece for the Home Office.”[3]
Founders of the Muslim Women’s Collective, Bushra Wasty and Sulekha Hassan, argued in the Guardian that 'the choice [of Khan] calls to question the government’s overall approach. Is it one that encompasses the far right, which has increasingly inspired violent attacks? Or does it intend to heavy-handedly single out Muslims, which would reinforce the feeling of a community under constant scrutiny?' Like Baroness Warsi they emphasised that Khan's strong association with the Prevent strategy was a key issue, which 'has made it especially important that she builds bridges with other Muslims'. [4]
External Resources
Bushra Wasty and Sulekha Hassan, Why we’re concerned about Sara Khan, the new anti-extremism chief, Comment is Free, guardian.co.uk 25 January 2018
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Resources
Notes
- ↑ Alan Travis, Home Office evokes Orwellian vision of anti-extremism commission, 21 June 2017
- ↑ Jamie Grierson, Choice of new UK anti-extremism chief criticised as 'alarming', Guardian, 25 January 2018, accessed same day
- ↑ Jamie Grierson, Choice of new UK anti-extremism chief criticised as 'alarming', Guardian, 25 January 2018, accessed same day
- ↑ Bushra Wasty and Sulekha Hassan, Why we’re concerned about Sara Khan, the new anti-extremism chief, Comment is Free, guardian.co.uk 25 January 2018
