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'.
Contents
Controversy over choice of new extremism tsar
In January 2018 home secretary Amber Rudd announced she had appointed women's rights campaigner Sara Khan of Inspire to lead the commission, prompting strong criticism from politicians such as Baroness Warsi and Labour MP Naz Shah as well as Muslim groups. [2]
Critics
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]
A letter petition to the Home Office signed by 100 Muslim organisations and scholars the following day called for Khan to be immediately removed from her new role. It was, said the letter a "deeply flawed and inappropriate" appointment. [4] It stated that Khan has 'no grassroots credibility within the Muslim community' and lacked academic background and serious practical experience for the role. Khan, said the letter, also 'has lacked transparency over the years with 'conflict of interests' arising between her organisation, Inspire, and public bodies.' Petition signatories included the grassroots organisation MEND, which was criticised previously by Khan, and the Muslim Council of Britain. Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
Supporters of Khan's appointment
- David Anderson QC, the former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation cautiously welcomed Khan's appointment on Twitter, saying: 'I for one will be giving Sara a fair chance, and wishing her the good luck that I suspect she will need! 'The idea that she is a Government stooge is hard to reconcile with her opposition (strongly shared by me) to its ill-advised 2015/16 plans for a Counter-Extremism Bill.'
- Louise Casey
- Quilliam Foundation
- Community Security Trust
Khan's response
In a Guardian op-ed entitled 'as anti-extremism chief, I hear my critics – but I’ll listen to victims too' Khan argued that 'doing nothing is no longer an option'. Her first task 'will be to carry out a comprehensive study of the scale, influence and reach of extremism in Britain'. [5]
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
Contact
- Address:
- Website:
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
- ↑ New counter-extremism tsar Sara Khan facing calls to quit, Sky News, 25 January 2018, accessed 31 January 2018
- ↑ Sara Khan, As anti-extremism chief, I hear my critics – but I’ll listen to victims too, guardian.co.uk 26 January 2018, accessed 31 January 2018
