Muslim mothers should be trained in basic computing skills so they can spot online radicalisation of their children, a report by the women’s charity the JAN trust says.
According to the Independent newspaper, a study of 350 Muslim women, conducted between last June and October, found that 92 per cent didn’t understand the term “online radicalisation”, nor that their children could be radicalised online.
It said three-quarters of all mothers surveyed had seen or heard their children accessing Islamic lectures, yet 90 per cent were unaware of their content.
“We believe that mothers are trusted anchors within many homes which means, if equipped with the right skills, they have a unique capacity to safeguard their children against internet radicalisation,” the report concluded.
The government has said that one of its priorities is to crackdown on online radicalisation whereby Muslims are exposed to so-called radical Islamic ideas on the web. The government fears that this online radicalisation could lead to terror attacks on British soil.
On the other hand, activists say that this is nothing but an attempt to get Muslims to spy one each other, even in their own homes. They say that the government’s counter-terrorism strategy is in effect targeting the entire Muslim community.
On its website JAN Trust says it aims to “empower women giving them the opportunity to tackle and overcome the barriers to inclusion.”
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The JAN Trust says it has conducted work as part of the government’s Preventing Violent Extremism programme. It is also involved in work on forced marriages, female genital multilation, inter-faith diologue, stopping domestic violence and youth work.
