Preventing Extremism or Promoting Discrimination?

Join a lively discussion about the impact of the UK Government’s Counter Terrorism and Extremism policies, such as ‘Prevent’. This seminar will provide attendees with the knowledge-base to give initial advice to those affected by these controversial policies. You will hear from leading legal, academic and community experts on tackling discrimination associated with preventing extremism.

The UK Government’s Counter-Terrorism policy is made up of four focus areas, the most notorious of which is the Prevent programme. This policy became a binding duty on all ‘specified authorities’ in the UK and was given effect by provisions in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015.

Specified authorities include schools, universities and local authorities. These authorities now have a general obligation to prevent people from being drawn into extremism.  The effect of the Act has been far reaching and insidious. 

Where did this policy derive from? Our speakers will be discussing terrorism and extremism theory and exploring the background of the UK Government's Counter-Terrorism policy.

Are you on the frontline, dealing with people affected by the 'Prevent' policy? Hear from our leading experts, with an opportunity to share views and get advice.

Take advantage of networking with like-minded grassroot organisations that are equally dedicated to protecting local communities from discriminatory policies.

Speakers 

Saimo Chahal QC (Hon)

Partner, Bindmans LLP 

Saimo Chahal QC (Hon) is a partner at Bindmans LLP and Joint Head of the Public Law Team.  She has had numerous successes before the Laws Lords, in high profile cases, for example obliging the DPP to publish guidelines on prosecutions on assisted suicide and establishing that the Courts have jurisdiction to hear cases on assisted dying. 

She was awarded the title of Honorary QC for her determined and innovative use of the Human Rights Act to help ordinary and often vulnerable people, to achieve success before the highest Courts in cases that many would have considered unarguable. Saimo has spoken and written about the damaging effects of the  policies on extremism and the Prevent Guidance in various forums. 

She is a well-known speaker on Civil Liberties and Human Rights and has given many interviews in the media.  She is considered to be one of the most influential lawyers in the Country according to the Times Law 100, a Trailblazer according to the British Institute of Human Rights and a top campaigning lawyer – Lawyer Magazine.  She has won many awards, including solicitor of the year, Public Law and Human Rights lawyer and Legal Aid lawyer of the year – Mental Health.  She is included in Who’s Who for her outstanding and distinguished legal contribution to the law. 

Ifath Nawaz 

Co-Founder, Association of Muslim Lawyers 

Ifath Nawaz is a solicitor with over 20 years of experience in Local Government in the UK and was one of the founding members of the Association of Muslim Lawyers (UK). She is currently one of the Vice Presidents of AML. 

Ifath will be speaking about the timeline of the introduction of the Prevent policy since 2006, its impact on the Muslim community in Britain by referring to facts on the ground as well as the disengagement of successive governments with mainstream Muslim organisations and the strangulation of Muslims practice of their faith.

In 2006, Ifath established a not for profit organisation, Muslimah – Make a Difference, through which she set up training for Muslim women and youth in leadership, civil engagement and responsibility.

Dr Fahid Qurashi

Criminology Lecturer, Canterbury Christ Church University

Dr Fahid Qurashi is a Lecturer in Criminology at Canterbury Christ Church University. He recently presented his paper on the impact of Prevent in Higher Education and has researched the policy’s impact in local Muslim communities. He will speak about how the construction of a terrorist/extremist threat – which focusses on Muslims and Islam - shapes the disproportionate targeting of Muslims across all levels of the strategy: in local communities, in schools, colleges, and universities, public transport and so on. In doing so, such a strategy undermines the Government’s position that the policy is universal and doesn’t stigmatise particular communities.

Dr Qurashi graduated with a PhD in Sociology from the University of Kent and before this he graduated with an MSc in Criminology & Criminal Justice (Research Methods) from the University of Oxford and a BSc (Hons) in Criminology and Forensic Science from the University of Northumbria. His recent research focuses on British Muslim radicalism and counter-terrorism policing. More generally his research interests cover political sociology, race and crime, and 'political Islam'.

Leroy Logan

Former Superintendent, Metropolitan Police Service

Leroy Logan is a retired Superintendent who served 30 years in the Metropolitan Police Service and has wide-ranging operational experience. He will speak about the Peelian principles of policing, the impact of the Government’s counter-terrorism policy on communities that erodes the Peelian principles and the fact that the police cannot arrest themselves out of this problem, because it requires the consent and backing of all communities without demonising believers in Islam.

Leroy was a founder member and former chair of both the Metropolitan Black Police Association and the National Black Police Association. A seasoned speaker, he has presented on range of issues relating to equality and diversity in policing taking part in the original World Conference Against Racism in Durban 2001 & the follow up conferences in Brasilia, 2005, & Geneva, 2009, showcasing the links between  advancement of race & equality frameworks and police reform.

Abed Chowdhury

Researcher, Islamic Human Rights Commission

Abed Choudhury heads the IHRC advocacy project within the UK. Abed has worked on numerous UK and international projects for IHRC including conflict resolution projects in Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia. He has written a number of reports for IHRC and oversees IHRC’s response to prevent and counter terrorism legislation. 

Zarah Sultana

National Committee Member, NUS Black Students' Campaign

Zarah Sultana is a final year student studying International Relations at the University of Birmingham. She sits on the national committee of the NUS Black Students' Campaign (BSC), an autonomous liberation campaign of the National Union of Students. BSC represents over one million students of African, Asian, Caribbean, Arab and Indoamerican descent in colleges and universities. It campaigns on issues related to anti-racism, anti-colonialism, equality in education and Black representation. More recently, BSC has been at the forefront of leading the student campaign against the Prevent strategy.

Zarah will be speaking about the grassroots campaigns being undertaken by students and her experiences as a student.

Ibrahim Mohamoud

Communications Officer, CAGE UK

Ibrahim was formerly Vice President Student Affairs at the Federation of Student Islamic Societies. CAGE is an independent advocacy organisation that works to empower communities affected by the War on Terror and to highlight abuses of due process. At the heart of their work is a belief that dialogue, conflict resolution and respect for the rule of law are essential for a just society.

Ibrahim will consider the experiences CAGE has had in dealing with cases involving Prevent, connecting lawyers and considering strategy across the public sector as well exploring lessons for campaigners and legal professionals.