Good Muslim, Bad Muslim: A Response to the Revised Prevent Strategy

Cageprisoners responds to the revised Prevent strategy - a document that is as flawed as its predecessor.

The full report can be viewed here

The UK government has released a revised Prevent strategy in the hope that it can break links to past policies in relation to Muslim communities. Those communities eagerly anticipated the new formulation in the expectation that the government would have listened and positively acted on the advice that had been given over the last six years.

The original Prevent strategy proved to be counterproductive both in terms of its strategy and its implementation. The government has attempted to rework the way in which it approaches the Muslim community, and unfortunately the revised formulation only seeks to further alienate Muslims from the mainstream of society.

The report—Good Muslim, Bad Muslim—helps to expose the inconsistencies of the position put forward by the government.

Among the main features of the report include analyses relating to:

1. Profiling of Muslims
2. Root causes of political violence
3. Secrecy and spying
4. Problem of definitions and the law
5. ‘Extremism’ amongst other communities
6. Equality, discrimination, sectarianism and human rights
7. The healthcare sector
8. The Channel programme

Throughout the report, what is shown to be of greatest concern, is the overemphasis on the ideological challenges relating to political violence, and very little recognition of other factors. Indeed, the title of report was chosen precisely because the government’s latest position signals to Muslims in the UK that it is the government that will decide what is acceptable religious practice and belief, and not the communities themselves.

The events in Norway on 22 July 2011 have raised further questions about the way in which ‘extremism’ has been analysed and the failure of European governments to see the clear trends that resulted in such a tragedy.

The overemphasis that has been placed on Muslims and Islam has blinkered Europe into a position where it has not only ignored, but some might say encouraged the tendencies of far right movements. By playing up the threat of Muslims, those who consider themselves liberals, have provided a space to validate racism against Muslims.

Good Muslim, Bad Muslim, also seeks to address the phenomenon of ‘extremism’ in other communities and ask questions of the way in which groups like the English Defence League are allowed to operate without any of the sanction or scrutiny that is afforded Muslims.

Whether or not Anders Breivik was part of an organisation or operated alone, the climate under which he chose to carry out such atrocities tells us that the entire strategy relating to ’extremism’ and ’radicalisation’ is flawed and dangerous.


Asim Quraishi
Cageprisoners.com