Exclusive: Draft of Shawcross report calling for crackdown on Islamism raises concerns it will try to ‘politicise counter-terrorism’
The government’s counter-terrorism programme has been too focused on rightwing extremism and should now crack down on Islamism, according to leaked draft extracts from a landmark review of the Prevent strategy.
In one particularly provocative recommendation, seen by the Guardian, the review claims there has been a “double standard” approach to tackling different forms of extremism, with individuals targeted for expressing mainstream rightwing views because the definition of neo-nazism has expanded too widely, while the focus on Islamism has been too narrow.
A renewed focus on Islamist extremism is needed, including when individuals do not yet meet the terrorism threshold.
Individuals have been referred to Prevent, the government’s anti-extremism programme, to access mental health support even when there is no evidence of extremism.
Some Prevent-funded groups have promoted extremist narratives including support for the Taliban.
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