We, the undersigned, are alarmed by the Home Office response to the William Shawcross Prevent Review.
The Home Office adopted all 34 of the recommendations from a review that was ideologically-shaped, partial in its discussion of evidence and replete with errors. Implementing these recommendations increases issues of discrimination, free speech and child protection.
A coalition of hundreds of civil society groups, including 17 major NGOs, had previously expressed concerns about the independence of William Shawcross given his previous Islamophobic statements. His recommendations, which would enable further discrimination towards Muslims and seek to silence legitimate criticism about Prevent, show those concerns to have been justified.
Numerous reports published by civil society groups, academics and UN Special Rapporteurs have highlighted the way Prevent has resulted in harms to individuals and families with serious consequences for human rights, particularly those of children and those with mental health needs.
Delayed for three years, the findings from the Shawcross review contradict the view of experts, including those behind the authoritative
, which drew on hundreds of referral cases, concluding that Prevent was ineffective, disproportionate, discriminatory and harmful to health. Other reports by CRIN, RSI and Medact have similar findings.
Despite raising legitimate evidence-based concerns, critics of Prevent have been ignored and smeared. One of the recommendations from the Shawcross review, which the Home Office has said it would endorse, is the creation of a designated group to further silence critical views. This is an affront to civil society and free speech.
We, the undersigned, strongly criticise the review of the UK’s counter-terrorism Prevent duty, published on 8 February, together with the Home Office’s response and call for it to be withdrawn.
Dr Layla Aitlhadj, Director, Prevent Watch
Professor John Holmwood, Co-Author , People's Review of Prevent
Martha Spurrier, Director, Liberty
Ilyas Nagdee, Racial Justice Director, Amnesty International
Leo Ratledge and Lianne Minasian, Co-Directors, Child Rights International Network (CRIN)
Shabna Begum, Head of Research, The Runnymede Trust
Kevin Blowe, Campaigns Coordinator, Netpol
Sophie Neuburg, Executive Director, Medact
Sophia Akram, Policy Manager, Open Rights Group
Zahra Bei, Co-Founder, No More Exclusions
Sarah St Vincent, Executive Director, Rights & Security International
Minda Burgos-Lukes, Co-Founder, CARE (Coalition of Anti-Racist Educators)
Dr Mor Dioum, Director, The Victoria Climbié Foundation UK
Rob Faure Walker, Dr, UCL & Prevent Digest
Isobel Ingham-Barrow, CEO, Community Policy Forum
Massoud Shadjareh, Chair, Islamic Human Rights Commission
Azhar Qayum, CEO, MEND - Muslim Engagement and Development
Raghad Altikriti, Chair, Muslim Assocation of Britain
Dr Ismail Patel, Chair, Friends of Al-Aqsa
Yahya Birt, Research Director , Ayaan Institute
Anas Mustapha, Head of Public Advocacy , CAGE
Rayla Javaid , Vice President , Association of Muslim Lawyers
Lauren Booth, Senior consultant , Kcmedia Consultancy
Anas Altikriti , CEO & Founder, The Cordoba Foundation
Ahammed Hussain, Director, Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPACUK)
Salman Butt, Chief Editor, Islam21c
Roshan M Salih , Editor , 5Pillars Media
Jakir Ahmed, Vice President, FOSIS (Federation of Student Islamic Societies)
Talat Baig, CEO, Inspirited Minds
A Khan, Admin, Hate Racism Monitoring Group
Dr Musharraf Hussain, CEO, Karimia institute
Abdul-Azim Ahmed, Secretary General, Muslim Council of Wales
Haq Ghani , Coordinator, Scottish Human Rights Forum
Therese O'Toole, Professor, University of Bristol
Tahir Abbas, Professor of Radicalisation Studies, Leiden University
Nasar Meer, Professor , University of Edinburgh
Alison Scott-Baumann, Professor SOAS, SOAS
Aurelien Mondon , Senior Lecturer , University of Bath
Aaron Winter , Senior Lecturer , Lancaster University
Ghazala Mir , Professor of Health Equity and Inclusion , University of Leeds
Tarek Younis, Senior Lecturer, Middlesex University
Riaz Khan, Lecturer, AML
Fazle Chowdhury, Lecturer, Greenwich University
Imogen Tyler , Professor , Lancaster University
Khadijah Elshayyal , Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh
Jonathan AC Brown , Professor, School of Foreign Service,, Georgetown University
Mumtaz A Khan , Professor,
Claudia Radiven, Dr, University of Leeds
Stephen Jones , Lecturer, University of Birmingham
Mobashra Tazamal, Associate Director, The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Dr Monish Bhatia , Lecturer in Criminology , Birkbeck, University of London
Dr Muhammad Ilyas Qamar, Lecturer, Kirklees college
Nigel De Noronha, Researcher, Manchester University
Mohammed JAVED , Councillor , Stockton Borough Council
Shaista Bashir, SFLW, Glasgow City Council
Malia Bouattia, Senior Editor , PC
Dr Yvonne Ridley, Secretary General of European Muslim League, EML
Robert Carter, Journalist, LBP
Lowkey, , Musician
Yasir Elhussein , Dr/ Journalist , Freelance writer
Adnan Hmidan , TV Presenter & journalist , AlArab in UK
Yusuf Patel, Founder, SREIslamic
Khalid Oumar, Trustee, Finsbury Park Mosque
Ridwaan Haris , Chairman, Madinatul Uloom Islamic Centre
Suliman Gani, Shaykh , Purley Masjid
Trustees of Lewisham Islamic Centre , Trustee , Lewisham Islamic Centre
Ismail Patel , Trustee, DARULULOOM Leicester
Muhammad Mulla, Trustee, Masjid e Umer Trust
Imam Ahmed , Imam, Green Academy Mosque
Rashid Ahmed Aboojee, Mr, Makki Masjid Burton on Trent
Ijaz Khan, Manager, Islamic Education & Cultural Society
Ali Akhtar , General Secretary , Al-Hira Educational Centre
Shaykh Omar Ghanchi , , Active Muslims of Leicester
Muhammad Uddin, , Newham Muslim Forum
Abdul Wahhab , Trustee, Darul Atfaal
Ali-Haider Abdul Rashid, , Madani Education Centre
Muhammad Patel , , Madrassa Talimul Islam
Muhammad Muttalib , , The City Academy Hackney
Dr Nihad Tamimi, Trustee, Canterbury Muslim Cultural Centre
Ahmed Desai , , Masjid Quba Bradford
Yusuf Shabbir, Dr , Islamic Portal
Abdul Mateen , Head Teacher , Quwwatul Islam Society
Muhammad Suhail Asghar , Dr (NHS) and Trustee , Shahporan Islamic Centre Bristol
Imam Fazlurrahman Hassan , Imam , ThinkBRITE Services
Ebrahim Moosa , , MERIT
Ahmad Massoud Sabour, Mr, Canterbury Muslim Cultural Centre
Mohammed Zaqir Shaikh, Shaikh, Darul Arqam Educational Trust
Aqeel Ajazi, General Secretary , Alhikmah Foundation
Mohmadzuber Shaikh , , Masjid e Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud RA
Muhammad Akmal Hussain, Imaam, Compass Learning Centre
Mohamed Suleman Fakir, Admin, Halal Monitoring Committee
Naz Bashir, Dr, Canterbury Muslim Cultural Centre
Mohammed Arshad Ahmed, Mosque coordinator , Mahmudsabir masjid
Sail Suleman, Mr, Masjid
Imran Bin Adam, Molana, Jameah
Ashraf Madari , Imam , International Khatme Nubuwwat Movement
Aden Omer, Chairman, Coventry Somali Muslim Community Trust
Sinan Rawi , Dr, Canterbury Mosque
Aden Omer, Chairman, Coventry Somali Muslim Community Trust
Shahzad Ahmed , Imam, Masjid and Madrassa Islamiyya
Suleman Aswat, , Dawatal Islam Mosque
Mohammed Arif, Trustee member, Easton jamia mosque
Abdul Malik , Chair of Easton Jamia Masjid , Easton Jamia Masjid
Sharafat Ali, Chairman, Huddersfield Council of Mosques
Imam Mohammed Abubakar, Chair, Huddersfield Community First
Maysoon Shafiq, Faith Leader , Al Mu'Minun the Believers
Mohammed Rabih Balila , Mr, Al Sahaba mosque
Mohammed Balila , Mr, Al Sahaba Mosque
Forhadur Rahman, Mr, Masjid
Rizwan Ahmed, Muslim Chaplain, Bristol Muslim Cultural Society
Ismaeel Akram, Operations Manager , Bristol Muslim Cultural Society
A Khan, Human Rights Watch., Kashmir Watch. Stand Up T Racism.
Omar Taha, Trustee, Al-Emaan Centre
Tariq Awan , General Secretary , Grangetown Muslim cultural centre
Mohammed Arshad Ahmed, Management/ Coordinator , Mahmudsabir Masjid
Suliman Gani, Imam, Purley Mosque
Zahir Mahmod, Founder , As-Suffa Institute
Tawhid Islam , Trustee , Liverpool Region Mosque Network
Mohammad Bora, , Jamiat Ul Muslemeen Mosque
Mohammad Khayat, Trustee, Manchester Islamic Centre
Mohammed Zahoor , Chairman , Hope Welfare Trust
Imran Patel, , Khidmah Organisation
Imran Afzal, Imam, The Peace Centre
Shahar Ali, President , Dawatul Islam Glasgow
Allah Ditta, , Ghoustua masjid
Arshi Ilyas, Admin, Ilyas Foundation
Yasmeen Desnavi, Mrs, CMA Welfare Trust
Olanrewaju Abdul-Hakeem Atilade , Imam, Jamaa'tu Ahli llahi Society (JAMAHLIY)
Kashif Shabir, Founder/Director, Ethical Business Services Ltd
Muhammad Shah, Imam, Albalagh Academy
Sajad akram , Mr , Alkhair Primary School
Muhammad khan, Imam, Green Dome academy
Muhammed Uddin, Trustee , Al Falah Educational Trust
Sami Velioğlu , Mr, Humanitarian Liaison Centre
Ghassan Nounu , Chair of Trustees , Bristol Islamic Schools Trust
Abdullah Haroon, , University of the West of England Islamic Society
Suleman Ebraheem, Trustee, Al Hashim Academy
Nabila Elahi, Ms, Islamia Girl’s School
Bilquees Akbar, Instructor, Kumon
Mozam Hussain , , Ilm Sphere
Hasan Ali , Community Manager , Muslim Education Trust
Omar Mohammed Salahuddin, Mr, Next Gen Alternative Provision
Omar Mohammed Salahuddin, Mr, New Dawn School Limited
Michele Messaoudi , , Education consultant
Mohammed Siddiq , Mr, Madina
Muhammad Haroon , Imaam , Islam Information Centre
Tasmia begum, Marketing lead , University of the west of England
Ilham Darr, Charity and Glenside rep , University of the West of England
Musab Panjwani, Director , Madrasah Management Services Ltd
Salma Haddad , English Language Teaching Associate, DeMontfort University
Hussain Takheroubt BA (Hons.) MA, Director , Southwark Bahdja Academy
Araf Harir, Spiritual Representative , UWE ISoc
Abdurafay Shahzad, Vice president , Islamic society of University of West of England
Yusuf Ali, Mr, Glasgow University Muslim Student Association
Shakeel Ali, Youth Worker, Islamic Society Britain
Asif Quayum , Director, Tap into Tajweed
Mohammad Nasrullah , Dr / Headteacher, Al Burhan Foundation
Abdur-Rahman Mangera , Muslim Scholar , Zamzam Academy
Heena Mahmood, Digital lead, Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust
Tahir Naeem Lhan, NHS Consultant , Kettering General Hospital
Mohammad Malik, Psychotherapist , NHS
Maryam Al-Mahtot, Doctor, NHS
Omar Qassid , , NHS
Reda Afifi, Dr, Retired NHS Consultant
AMNA IQBAL, Pharmacist, NHS Lanarkshire
Saifulla mahamroot , Mr, Independent
Hakan Gokcr, Mr, Sohbet Society
Ibrahim Adewusi , Mr., MAN UK
Nazim Bashir , Mr, Argyll Hotel
Mohammed Javaid, Mr, Carspa
Tanveer Hussain , Optometrist , Premier Eyecare
Dr Nadeem Bhatti, GP, Peel st medical centre
Ehsan Mian, Mr, Independent
Tariq Mahmood, Chair , Sufi Festival
Ahmed Ali Bashir , Healthcare Professional , Pharmacare
Mohammed Shahid, Shawcross Review, Muslim Community Glasgow
Hamzah Ali , Mr, H.A Accountants
Sajid Sabri, International Lawyer, BBJ Solicitors
Abdul Hussain, Director, Saif IT Solutions LTD
Zahir Haider, Chairman, Stirling Aid
Lezan abdulqader , Mrs , Lezan Laawjak abdulqader
Dawn, Ph.D candidate , University of Aberdeen
Asia Yekeen, , Islamic Society
Hussain Akhtar, Spiritual activist, Hussain Akhtar
Mumtaz Rafiq , Mrs / Parent , british born muslim, Not applicable
Azmat Sheraz, Project manager , Home
Ajaz chaudhri, Director ( retired), Personal
Huzaifa Fahar, Imam/Teacher, Madrassah Nur Ul Quran
Sarfraz Fazil, Manager, Express Bradford
Eyman Aboukar , Mr, UWE ISOC
Jamal Saleem Shah, Private British citizen., Private British citizen
Nabeela Mahmood, Mrs, Teacher
Riaz Ahmed , Ne, R&B Easton Ltd
Ashik Mohamed Siddique, , NAZ PLM LTD
Ashiq Haider, Pharmacy Director, Derby DCYA
Shah nahar, Supply teacher , Various schools
Mohammad Khan, Mr, Technical studies institute
Amir Qurban, Public Health Advisor. Retired , NHS. Retired
Farrakh Rafiq, Senior Consultant, Racism & Islamophobia not in my name
Abdul Waheed , Teacher , JKN FATAWA
Abdul Aziz Belattar, Doctor, ABZ Consultancy and Training limited
Muhammad Ameen Gani, Mr, Independent
Uvais Ismail, Company director, GS Supplies Ltd
Nu'amaan Limbada , Teacher, Independent
Omar Bashir, Director , OB Education
Zahid Akhtar, Founder, Documenting Oppression Against Muslims
Dr Sunil Kumar, Insurgent Academic , London School of Economics and Political Science
Laura Connelly, Lecturer , University of Sheffield, UK
Mizanur Rahman, Campaigner, Harrow Mutual Aid
Abrar Siyam , , Islamic Society
