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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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8 November 2009

PRESS RELEASE: UK – Prevent fuels suspicion and hatred

IHRC has provided an extensive report to highlight how the prevent strategy demonises the Muslim Community. It concludes that the strategy succeeds only in fostering alienation towards Muslims.

The prevent strategy has as its focus tackling vague notions of extremism. In reality, it targets religiosity rather than violence. This conflation has proved very counter-productive since it results in the demonisation of Muslims rather than tackling violence.

IHRC Chair Massoud Shadjareh states:

“We urge the government to abandon the prevent strategy as it has done nothing but fuel suspicion and hatred towards the Muslim Community. In this strategy the Muslims are addressed as terrorists or potential terrorists, subsequently managing to turn Muslims into a suspect community.”

IHRC report

IHRC testimony to the House of Commons

For more information please contact the Press Office on (+44) 20 8904 4222 or (+44)7958522196, email: info@ihrc.org.[ENDS]

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The Islamic Human Rights Commission is an NGO in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org