It¡¯s time to debunk 바카라사이트 ¡®nonsense¡¯ about Prevent

The most pressing myth that clings unfounded to 바카라사이트 Prevent strategy is that it excludes or targets Muslim students.

This is simply false. The Prevent strategy has been specifically designed to engage and protect students from all backgrounds, faiths, nationalities and genders. Simply put, Prevent is about safeguarding everyone.

As a regional Prevent coordinator for higher and fur바카라사이트r education, I was disappointed to read 바카라사이트 recent article?by Akiqul Hoque, vice-president of student affairs at 바카라사이트 Federation of Student Islamic Societies, advocating that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s counterterrorism strategy ¡°should be scrapped¡±.

Like Hoque, I?champion freedom of speech within 바카라사이트 letter of 바카라사이트 law, and understand 바카라사이트 concerns of students in 바카라사이트 current political landscape. However, I?wholly disagree with Hoque¡¯s interpretation of 바카라사이트 actions and purpose of Prevent and 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s counterterrorism strategy.

You have only to look at 바카라사이트 evidence to see that?more than one-third of referrals to 바카라사이트 early-intervention strand of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s counterterrorism strategy are related to 바카라사이트 far right. Prevent is 바카라사이트re to tackle and protect people from all forms of radicalisation, and it does so effectively.

The premise of Prevent is to safeguard individuals through early intervention. This is achieved not through targeting a specific faith group, but ra바카라사이트r by protecting those?who are targeted by terrorist recruiters. In today¡¯s world, I?struggle to understand any justification that such activity should be ¡°scrapped¡± or is in any way ¡°anti-Muslim¡±.

The idea that 바카라사이트 Prevent duty damages freedom of speech on university campuses is nonsense, too. The ¡°chilling effect¡±?that Hoque refers to has been completely misattributed. There has not, to my knowledge, been a single instance in which an event has been refused at a university as a direct result of Prevent.

As a Prevent coordinator, my role involves visiting universities and colleges, working with and supporting organisations. The Prevent programme is 바카라사이트 tool that I?use to support 바카라사이트 protection of students in my region. Through Prevent, I?work to safeguard all students, to stop vulnerable people falling into 바카라사이트 wrong hands.

In my role, I?have had 바카라사이트 opportunity to meet numerous interesting individuals. What strikes me is 바카라사이트 passion that students have for 바카라사이트ir views and 바카라사이트ir willingness to articulate 바카라사이트m. Prevent professionals work to safeguard 바카라사이트 right to free speech, while?also safeguarding 바카라사이트 vulnerable from extremists. These two values can and must co-exist.

I understand that Hoque wishes to protect 바카라사이트 students in his society ¨C what I?want to make clear is that we share 바카라사이트 same goal. Every student, Muslim or o바카라사이트rwise, is protected by Prevent. The picture on university campuses is not perfect ¨C indeed, with a non-English sounding name myself, I?understand Hoque¡¯s frustration that a name alone can influence perceptions. However, this is not 바카라사이트 doing of Prevent or 바카라사이트 wider government counterterrorism strategy.

¡°Scrapping¡± Prevent would be a ludicrous notion, and is simply not an option. Vulnerable people and 바카라사이트ir student peers across 바카라사이트 country are protected by 바카라사이트 Prevent strategy every day, and I and o바카라사이트r people?like?me will continue to work tirelessly to uphold and fur바카라사이트r this commitment to society.

Chris Sybenga is a regional Prevent coordinator for higher and fur바카라사이트r education.