Hundreds of doctors, lawyers, students, academics and community organisers have gathered at Goldsmiths College in London for the first ever national conference seeking to coordinate widespread opposition to Prevent, and call for an end to the politically-motivated programme.
Speakers expressed grave concerns that the Prevent duty, and the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 of which it is a part, have a chilling effect on civil liberties, and result in the state-sponsored demonisation of Muslims, dire infringements of the rights of children, and severe restrictions on free speech.
The Prevent duty imposes a duty on schools, colleges, universities and other public bodies to monitor people’s religious and political views. Though it is predominantly aimed at Muslims, the Act sets a dangerous precedent, where it is the responsibility of public sector workers to refer individuals they suspect of being “radicalised” to the state.
Since 2012, more than 4,000 people have been referred to the government’s anti-radicalisation programme, Channel, half of them under-18s – with the youngest a three-year-old from London. Besides infringing on the rights of the child, Prevent is eroding civil liberties and deepening discrimination against Muslims. Last year the Metropolitan police reported that hate crimes against Muslims were up 70%.
Arun Kundnani, author of The Muslims Are Coming, who opened the conference, said: “The Act is disproportionately targeting Muslims, Prevent and the Counter-terrorism Act 2015 have also narrowed the space for political dissent in many forms. If the government get their way we aren’t going to be able to have meetings like this anymore, because they are trying to say that even getting together to talk about how our civil liberties are being infringed…is extremism. They are trying to set the limits of acceptable and unacceptable speech. But we’re not going to let that happen.”
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