Guest blog by CSC research intern Manuel Ramos:
What is the best term to use to describe terrorism done in the name of Islam without offending Britain’s Muslim community?
Anti-Islamic activity? Community resilience?
Confused? I think so. The fact is that Ministers last year instructed councils to use these terms instead of the widely used and understood “terrorism” and “extremism” in order to not to ‘offend’ British Muslims.
However, this approach has led to widespread confusion in British councils, preventing local authorities from discussing frankly about Islamic extremism/community resilience.
A report for the Home Office and Department for Communities and Local Government public services were not communicating policies “for fear that using more direct language exacerbate community tensions”.
A council chief executive in the report also said that “people are worried about saying the wrong thing and being labelled as racist”.
The report also found that councils and police given more than £6 million to stop young people turning to violent extremism "lacked intelligence" about where to focus resources. Some 70 councils in England will receive a further £45 million by 2011 as part of the "Prevent" agenda.
The aim of this programme is to encourage Muslims to identify themselves as part of British society, reject extremist ideology and activities, and encourage others to do the same...if only it were that easy!
