—————————————————–
Islamic Human Rights Commission
—————————————————–

30 March 2010

PRESS RELEASE: UK – Response to CLG Committee report on PREVENT agenda

Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) broadly welcomes today’s select committee report on ‘Preventing Violent Extremism.’

IHRC Chair, Massoud Shadjareh, who gave evidence before the committee late last year stated:

“As with our written and verbal submissions to the committee, the report highlights the concerns regarding intelligence gathering under the guise of community cohesion projects i.e. effectively spying on communities.  

“This aspect of PREVENT is very clear to Muslim communities, in particular young people, and as such is deeply alienating.

“We welcome the report’s understanding that PREVENT’s policies appear to be aimed at engineering belief and practice in a theological sense.”

IHRC hopes the report will lead to the calling of an independent inquiry into the use of PREVENT for intelligence gathering.

For more information please contact the Press Office on (+44) 20 8904 4222 or (+44)798522196, email: info@ihrc.org.[ENDS]

——————————————————————————————

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