UK Civil Society Urges Labour Government to Overhaul Counter-Extremism Policies

A coalition of leading civil society organisations has called on the UK Labour government to reform counter-extremism policies, including the controversial Prevent programme, in a letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Signatories, such as Prevent Watch, Amnesty International, and Liberty, stressed the need to suspend a proposed definition of extremism and reconsider the conclusions of a review of Prevent conducted by William Shawcross.

As Cooper initiates a new review of the country’s counter-extremism strategy, the letter emphasizes the detrimental impact of Prevent on society, particularly on racialised groups. The organisations advocate for placing Prevent under the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation to address concerns about its infringement on free speech and targeting of Muslims.

The letter also criticizes the Commission for Countering Extremism (CCE) and calls for its suspension from overseeing Prevent, emphasizing the need to combat institutional racism and inequality in government initiatives. Dr. Layla Aitlhadj of Prevent Watch highlights the damaging effects of Prevent on communities, urging the government to heed calls to suspend the program and prioritize human rights.

Amnesty International UK’s Ilyas Nagdee echoes these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of halting discriminatory counter-extremism measures and promoting trust in institutions.