More than 200 civil society organisations, community leaders and professionals have called for William Shawcross’ recent review into the government’s anti-terrorism scheme Prevent to be withdrawn.
In a joint statement, organisations including Liberty, Amnesty International, Rights & Security International and Child Rights International Network, criticised the former Charity Commission chair’s report, together with the Home Office’s response.
Shawcross’s review claimed some organisations have promoted extremist narratives, and that a number of registered charities in the UK are listed as terrorist groups by key international allies.
The Home Office welcomed the report and pledged to work with charities to help prevent radicalisation.
Signatories said they were “alarmed by the Home Office response to the William Shawcross Prevent review” as it adopted all 34 of its recommendations.
They argue that the review “was ideologically-shaped, partial in its discussion of evidence and replete with errors”.
“Despite raising legitimate evidence-based concerns, critics of Prevent have been ignored and smeared,” their statement reads:
The organisations say implementing these recommendations increases issues of discrimination, free speech and child protection “already inherent” in Prevent.
Along with the joint statement, John Holmwood, professor emeritus in the school of sociology and social policy at the University of Nottingham and Prevent Watch director Layla Aitlhadj have written a 72-page response to the Shawcross report.
It warns that by adopting Shawcross’s recommendations, the government risks proposing that Muslim-led civil society organisations are “extremist” and “Islamist” by virtue of their expression of Islam in the public sphere.
Both authors called for the Shawcross’ report to be withdrawn.
Neither the Charity Commission or Home Office responded to Civil Society News’ requests for comment.
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