Safeguarding the Vulnerable from Extremism
Dr. Mozammel Haque
On
Wednesday, 22 March 2017, a terrorist attack took place in the vicinity of the
Palace of Westminster in London. The Kent-born attacker Khalid Masood, 52,
whose birth name was Adrian Russell Ajao, killed three people when he drove his
car into pedestrians, walking across Westminster Bridge and then after
crashing, fatally stabbed PC Keith Palmer outside Parliament before being shot
dead by police. Khalid Masood was British-born and had a 20-year record of
offending and had a string of convictions, including for assault. The country
stayed calm, united and strong.
The
British Prime Minister Theresa May said, “We will all move forward together.
Never give in to terror. And never allowing the voices of hate and evil to
drive us apart.”
The
Home Office in cooperation with the Islamic Cultural Centre, London organised
an evening event entitled “Safeguarding the Vulnerable from Extremism” at the
Centre on 30th March 2017 to discuss the central theme of which is
to protect the new generation from extremism. After conveying condolences to
the families of the victims and praying to God the Almighty to safeguard us all
from such shocking and terrorist attacks, I have divided this write-up into two
sections: First on Safeguarding the Vulnerable from Extremism and second on
Horrible Westminster Terror Attack.
In
this connection, I would like to acknowledge and express my gratefulness to Dr.
Ahmad Al-Dubayan, Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre, who
facilitated my attendance to the Evening event and dinner by providing
conveyance to and fro the Islamic Cultural Centre, London.
Safeguarding the Vulnerable from Extremism
The
evening event entitled “Safeguarding the Vulnerable from Extremism” organised
by The Islamic Cultural Centre, London in cooperation with The Home Office, UK
,was held at the Library Conference Hall of the Islamic Cultural Centre (ICC),
on Thursday, 30th of March 2017. The evening event was attended by
120 people including community leaders, social activists and heads of Islamic
organisations and associations. The event was chaired by Ayaz Zuberi, Head of
Public relations at the Islamic Cultural Centre, London.
This
evening programme took place in the aftermath of the Westminster Terrorist
Attack. Thus the central theme of the evening event was to protect the new
generation from extremism. A group of experts, psychologists, social workers,
teachers and imams discussed the protection of youth from extremism and
violence. Safeguarding the community and eradicating the threat of violence and
counteract the extremist narrative prominently dealt with.
There
was a team of expert panellists for community question: They were Mariam
Hamoudi, Prevent Social Worker, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and
Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea; Dr. Abu-Lisan, Deputy Lieutenant of
Greater London in the Royal Borough of
Kensington & Chelsea, Founding Chair of the Chelsea Muslim Community Hub,
Governor of an outstanding schools Federation (Fox-Ashbumham); Dr. Abdul-Rasoul
Yassiri, Member of the Iraqi Association,
Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Imam Shafi, Imam and
Religious Advisor for Her Majesty’s Prison Services (HMPS) and The National
Offender Management Services (NOMS).
Welcoming the gatherings
Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan
The
event was started with the recitation from the verses of the Holy Qur’an. After
the recitation, Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan, the Director General of the Islamic
Cultural Centre, London, welcome the attendees by saying, “It is great
privilege for us here to have all of you especially for those who come to the Centre
for the first time. I hope there are few only because since for many years I
have been trying to attract everybody to come here to the Centre. Insha Allah
there is few who are coming for the first time.”
After
welcoming the guests and attendees, Dr. al-Dubayan started by thanking the Team
from the Home Office who were organising this event. He said, “Thank you so
much really for organising this event today and thank those from the Islamic Cultural
Centre, to let it happen, to take it place today.” In the beginning, of course,
he thanked the “speakers who are going to enrich our mind and knowledge about
the information that they are going to give.”
Speaking
about the subject or the title of the event, Dr. al-Dubayan said, “The subject
of today is really very important – safeguarding. Safeguarding is really a very
big title and a very big word covers a lot of things. Safeguarding is very
important especially when it comes about ideas, ideology. This is very very
important. Because it has relation with religion itself; it has relation to the
social life of individuals; it has relation to the system; all of it as a whole
in the community or in the society as a whole. So it is a word which has lot of
dimensions and has many meaning.”
Referring
to what happened last week in Westminster, Dr. al-Dubayan expressed his
condolences and prayed for the victims, “We are really passing through a
critical time. I hope it will not last for long time. It is critical moment
after the awful incident happened last week in Westminster and I have to express
my condolences for those who passed away or who are victims of this incident
and also prayer for everybody in the society to be safe and to protect us all Insha
Allah.”
Speaking
about duties and responsibilities of every people as well as that of the
Islamic Cultural Centre, Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned, “We believe the Islamic Cultural
Centre touching this subject and talking about educating people empowering
people on some meaning and some duties is very very important. It is one of our
responsibilities. When it comes about radicalisation or extremism or terror, it
is even more important. That’s why we actually welcomed here and hosted many programme
about women empowerment, children, youth and many other thing together with Home
Office and also with other governmental bodies and non-governmental bodies and civil
organizations, NGOS around us in the society.”
Safeguarding
is a very big word, it has many dimensions. Elaborating the word and its
meaning, Dr. al-Dubayan said, “Safeguarding is a responsibility which comes
from many sides; comes from the family; they have some responsibility about
this; for young people; they have also responsibility; responsibility from
teachers; there is responsibility from imams; there is also responsibility from
the Muslim organisations; there are responsibilities from every single
institution which is working around the society.”
Speaking
about radicalisation, the ICC Director General said, “Those people who are being
attracted or have been attracted to such a kind of radicalisation anywhere in
the world; I believe, before they cause victims somewhere, they are themselves
victims; victim of wrong ideas; victim of wrong interpretations, victim of, may
be, hijacking the name of Islam particularly done by other people.”
Another
word in the title of the event is vulnerability which is very important. Dr.
al-Dubayan mentioned, “Today may be the subject of vulnerability is very very
important. There is something like vulnerability assessment in the society to
prevent these people not to be themselves of victims of such ideas and such
radicalisations. How to do it? This is actually something one of the subjects
which really need to be discussed, researched and I am sure our speakers will
touch some of it; how to prevent; how to use education to prevent such
vulnerability; how to use, for example, the holistic safeguarding, building
this way or another around, and, with us here today, Mr. Ahmed Abdul Ghani he is a social
expert in the Islamic Cultural Centre here and he is working actually drafting
some ideas about finding a way for vulnerability assessment around the society.
How this is to be protected and how this to be put it in the beginning.”
Speaking
about people turns to extremism, Dr. al-Dubayan thinks it is a very complicated
issue. He said, “This young people who are going that way either in the U.K or
any other country; I think the issue is very very complicated; it is not just
somebody who listened to a speaker or an imam or a preacher in a mosque or
somewhere, or read a book, may be listen to video clipping in the internet and
then suddenly within one hour he became radical or extremist. It is more
complicated than that.”
Dr.
al-Dubayan believes there are many factors working behind. He said, “I believe
there are many factors, social factors working behind this. I believe there is
lack of education; I believe there is one very important thing that is lack of
knowledge of Islam itself; there is a big gap in the knowledge of Islam itself
among Muslims themselves. I think Muslims need very basic education about Islam
for themselves; also including those who are born as Muslim and this is actually the reality that what we
have.”
Besides
those factors, Dr. al-Dubayan also mentioned some other factors. He said, “There
is unemployment which is working in many countries in the Middle East; there is
lack of human rights also in some areas in the world; which also encourage
people to be radical. They think that in this way they can guarantee their
rights. All these factors are working together, overlapping together in one
society or another to produce what we are having today. The achievement that we
try to do together is to do something to unplug this problem, to put it in the
right way and to come closer to the young generation to see how we can remedy
the problem before it happens. It’s like something precautionary system; taking
steps before problem itself happened.”
The
ICC Chief mentioned something which experienced from the incident he had seen
and from the questions he had heard. He said, “There is a problem of identity; there
are some young people they really don’t know what their identity is and those
who do not know who they are; they are really very easy prey for the
extremists. When someone is angry with everything around him or her; he or she
does not think he/she belongs to the society or may be this society is unfair
with me; then where I go; okay I don’t know where to go; or I am different from
the people around; I am alien to the society; then I will be easy for some
people; I will be taken by people who come and tell me listen you don’t belong
to the society; you belong to this side; so come to us. This is one of the core
things. I hope you can take care of and Ahmad Abdul Ghani is here; he is
working on such things, with us and with some outside programme addressing
particularly this thing.”
Speaking
again the title vulnerability, Dr. Al-Dubayan said, “This readiness to be
attracted another way which really something that we should take care of and I
think it is our responsibility at the Islamic Cultural Centre, since we are
really taking care of not only about religious education or about teaching Islam
to those who like to know Islam even though they are not Muslims or to the Muslim
who like to have deeper knowledge and also to give protection to really bring
people into the society closer to each other to know each other; to actually
make the way the path straight for better understanding; better relations, more
tolerance, giving chance to people, spreading knowledge because knowledge is
very important. Because knowledge brings understanding; but actually ignorance
brings misunderstanding.”
Dr.
Al-Dubayan said, “We can defeat all these things, stereotypes from both sides
only when we pave the way open the door for more knowledge for other people;
knowledge about our society; knowledge about regulations of the society and
really putting our hands together to work together.”
Dr.
Al Dubayan further explained how the Centre is working with some social and
trained experts such as our Advisor, Ahmad Abd El- Ghani, to develop a vision
of a proactive, peaceful vision on the prevention of extremism; from assessing
risk-factors and taking care of youth's vulnerability to extremism before.
Dr.
Al-Dubayan concluded his lecture after thanking all those who prepared this
event; all those who are present and those who come today to listen to these
remarkable speakers to get benefit from them.
Mr. Ayaz Zuberi
Mr.
Ayaz Zuberi, Head of Public Relations at the Centre and panel Chairman
of the evening welcomed the panellists and gave a brief induction of the format
of the evening. Mr. Zuberi brought attention to the audience the attack which
took place at Westminster on 22nd March 2017 and conveyed the
Centre’s condolences to the families affected by the attack and prayed to God,
The Almighty, to safeguard us all from such shocking terrorist attacks and
thanked the police and emergency services for their swift response in keeping
our country safe and protected.
Mr.
Zuberi also informed the participants that Dr AL Dubayan and the Islamic
Cultural Centre had a meeting with the Home Secretary, Mayor of London and
Faith Leaders to show solidarity and community cohesion amongst all.
Mr.
Zuberi also mentioned how post Westminster attack the issue of safeguarding
plays a potent role in many youth related organisations in the UK. Mr. Zuberi
also informed the participants of the following statistics:
* 13 UK Terror attacks have been prevented since March 2013
* At any given moment, there are 500 live investigations
that are taking place
* The current threat level for international terrorism in
the UK is SEVERE
Ms. Mariam Hamoudi
Ms.
Marian Hamoudi, Prevent Social worker (supporting families) talked about the
local delivery of the prevent strategy. She informed the participants that she
has been working in the PREVENT programme for 2 years in her capacity as a
social worker engaging in women’s issues. Ms. Hamoudi stressed on the
importance of reducing risk factors relating to extremism which may include
bullying in schools through mechanisms and ways she can give advice and consult
with youth and the younger generation. Ms Hamoudi also gave an informative talk
on the role of the PREVENT unit in approaching and safeguarding the vulnerable
from Far-right extremism.
Dr. Mustafa Abu-Lisan
Dr. Mustafa
Abu-Lisan, Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London in the Royal Borough of
Kensington & Chelsea, Governor of an Outstanding Schools Federation for 12
years and as a chairman of a wonderful charity and as a founding member of the Chelsea
Muslim Community Hub. He discussed the
prominence of outreach programmes with schools, religious centres and local
community by the PREVENT unit as a mechanism of educating wider-fabric
community as tactic in counteracting extremism.
He
advised people to be inside and put your views forward. Dr. Abu-Lisan said, “Those
people who have the misconception about PREVENT
they have it because they are not there. It is much better to be inside and put
your view forward; rather than criticise while you are outside. Because inside
you can put your views and get your answers; you get your answers from very
high sources from the Home Office.”
Dr.
Abu-Lisan spoke on education. He said, “Prevent in education is extremely
important.” He said, “I found PREVENT
is nothing more than an extension to the safeguarding and child protection
policy, like we try to protect them from bullying, from alcohol, from drugs,
from anti-social behaviour. We protect them from extremism and radicalisation
and genital mutilation and we also try to teach them about the important shared
values, the family values, I call them, the freedom to express yourself, respect
for the law, democracy, freedom of the individual, the freedom to practice your
religion whatever it is.”
Dr.
Abu-Lisan also said, “It is very important that we realise that PREVENT is nothing more than an extension
of child protection policy. Nothing more. In Madrasahs, or supplementary
schools, when we teach Arabic, teach Qur’an we applied the principles of child
protection and safeguarding; and we also teach them about PREVENT. And we are lucky now that we
have people from the PREVENT
group who come and visit the centres and talk to the teachers and train them.”
Dr.
Abu-Lisan also mentioned that observation is very positive; we noticed that the
parents are very happy because their children are given extra protection and we
found that the children were also very happy.
Dr. Abu-Lisan is a founder of the Chelsea
Muslim Community Hub which promotes tolerance, integration and peace and
provides a haven for Muslim families to socialise and celebrate family values
that protect young people from drugs, alcohol and antisocial behaviour. Dr
Abu-Lisan throughout his address connected his experience and its importance of
promoting community cohesion and interconnected to reduce the threat of
extremism.
Dr. Abdul-Rasoul Yassiri
Dr. Abdul-Rasoul
Yassiri is a Member of the Iraqi Association and Fellow of the Royal College of
Psychiatrists. He highlighted in his speech several physiological factors
affecting extremism. Within his talk, Dr Yasiri commented that there wasn’t a
strong correlation between suffering from mental illness and extremist
behaviour. Statistics shown that many extremist behaviour attacks were
conducted by individuals who do not work with others. These peoples are
commonly referred to as lone wolfs.
Dr
Yasiri also pondered over in his talk how and what makes a person vulnerable
towards acts of terrorism. Steps can include the following:
* Identifying vulnerable adults who are particularly at risk
* recognising risk from different sources and in different situations
and recognising abusive behaviour from other service users, colleagues and
family members
* working within best practice as specified in contracts
Imam Sheikh Shafi Chowdhury
Sheikh
Shafi Chowdhury is the Imam for Her Majesty’s Prison Services (HMPS) and The National Offender Management Service (NOMS).
Sheikh Chowdhury presented to the audience his experience working within HM
Prison Muslim Chaplaincy where he found education was a prominent tool as a
method of safeguarding and protecting vulnerable adults and youth offenders.
Imam Shafi highlighted that changes in demur of prisoners was a problem facing
Muslim Chaplaincy and through creating better theological understanding and
increasing methods of communications will help people integrate more in society
and significantly reduce threats of extremist nature.
Speeches
were followed by half an hour Q & A (Question & Answer) session with
the audience and Dr Al Dubayan concluded by thanking all for their attendance
and participation within the event and was delighted to see such engagement and
enthusiasm during the evening. Dr. Al Dubayan paid tribute to the Trustees of
the Centre for their invaluable support in the activities of the Centre and
thanked the UK Home Office for their collaboration in the event and finally thanked
his colleagues in the Islamic Cultural Centre for their hard work and diligence
in preparation of the event.
Forum Feedback and Data Analysis:
During
the end of the forum, evaluation forms were distributed to all attendees and
data was tabled and allowed for collection & analysis of results which gave
way to areas of improvements. This section of the report focuses on providing
an insight of how the attendees felt about the event and how the comments which
were relayed to administration of the Centre was responded to appropriately.
The
participants of the event were asked a series of question in terms of how they
felt towards the event with the first question that was answered being “Has this event improved your awareness of
Islam and Civic Responsibility” and the results can be seen below:
Question “Has this event improved your awareness of the
risks posed by extremism?”
|
Impact
|
No. of
Responses
|
|
Greatly Improved
|
14
|
|
Good Improvement
|
38
|
|
Moderate Improvement
|
36
|
|
Small Improvement
|
12
|
|
No Improvement
|
3
|
It
can be deduced from the results that attendees had their awareness of the risks
posed by extremism improved overall throughout the event with however 15% of
participants having little or no improvements. Participants were then asked two
comparative questions before and after the event:
Question: How important do you consider safeguarding
vulnerable individuals from extremism to be
Before and After the event:
|
|
Before
|
After
|
|
Very Important
|
61.00
|
68
|
|
Important
|
7.00
|
9
|
|
Neutral
|
7.00
|
1
|
|
Slightly Important
|
5.00
|
2
|
|
Unimportant
|
1.00
|
1
|
How confident were you about efforts to safeguard and
protect vulnerable individuals from extremism Before and After the
event?
|
IMPACT
|
Before
|
After
|
|
Confident
|
38
|
74
|
|
Neutral
|
58
|
18
|
|
No Confidence
|
6
|
4
|
How did you feel about the event overall?
|
Impact
|
No. of Responses
|
|
Very Positive
|
22
|
|
Positive
|
18
|
|
Neutral
|
6
|
|
Negative
|
2
|
|
Very Negative
|
0
|
The
Results displayed in the Data Analysis shows that overall an improvement from
before the event to after the event in the following sectors:
* Advocating for creating awareness of the risks posed by
extremism
* Promoting The community responsibilities of all in the
Community
* Enduring efforts to reduce extremism through safeguarding
vulnerable
The
results also indicate a high satisfaction rate in the participants’ attitude
towards the event itself which help promote a positive atmosphere in the event
itself.
General Comments
and Suggestions:
* Most
participants relayed to the Centre in the additional comments section that they
much enjoyed the discussions and found it most informative.
* There
were many feedback indicating that the audience valued the wealth of knowledge
and experience shared by the panellists
* Comments
were made about the questions and answers sessions where the audience felt that
questions were answered very well and queries responded to appropriately, given
the short time frame for the questions.
Areas to improve on in future events:
* Adopt
initiatives and programmes to engage with youth with society with community
cohesion events
* Include
more women in events and promote initiatives to promote women and to inspire
women in the community
* Allocate
longer time frame for question and answer sessions to respond to as many
queries as possible during the event.
* Include
more case study analysis of extremism in the session to allow the audience to
further engage with the topic and apprehend it better.
I
would like to acknowledge the contribution of Mr. Mohamed Omar, Secretary of
the Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre, London, in the preparation
part of the report on the Evening event; especially the Data Analysis,
Evaluation & Recommendations, and Comments and Suggestions. .
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