Unfortunately British University campuses and UK prisons are fertile breeding grounds for radicalizing young and vulnerable Muslims. There is an over representation of Muslims in prison constituting more than 14% which is over 12,000 Muslim prisoners in Britain’s jails.
A leading Muslim organization Minhaj-ul-Quran UK has published a book to declare Jihad against ISIS and similar terrorist groups titled “The Supreme Jihad” authored by Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. This book will provide training material for youth to conduct "online Jihad" against extremism and radicalist recruitment and is part of a series of books to be published in the next few weeks.
Minhaj-ul-Quran will also provide training to its youth to tackle ISIS recruitment and conduct “online Jihad” against radicalization and extremism to be ready for June massive announcement.
Spokesman to Minhaj-ul-Quran UK, Shahid Mursaleen said “there is a deep rooted concern that Muslim students and prisoners could be at risk of being radicalised in British Universities and jails and then potentially being recruited for Syria or elsewhere, when they leave, like Jihadi John. Unfortunately nothing much has been done to tackle radicalisation inside UK campuses or prisons.”
He added "The Government anti-extremism bills does not tackle the issues from the root."
“We believe that in order to tackle radicalisation effectively it must be rooted out ideologically and we have tools to do that.”
The organization is planning an huge anti-terror event in June in central London in which one of the largest anti-extremism announcement will be made by its founder Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri.
Muslim Council of Britain writes to MPS for comments on Radicalisation
Following comments over the weekend by a senior Metropolitan Police officer who suggested that signs of increased religiosity and an aversion to the store Marks & Spencers could be signs of extremism, the Muslim Council of Britain has written to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner stating that such comments 'demonstrate a startling disconnect between the police and Muslim communities'.
In a letter to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Muslim Council of Britain's Secretary General Dr Shuja Shafi wrote: "The vast majority of the Muslim community who abhor terrorism are equally anxious to find the right answers to tackle terrorism. In this regard, we think deeper dialogue with the police and Muslim communities is crucial to ensure that measures proposed are effective.
“We are in clear agreement about the need to prevent terrorism, as is the case with all crimes. We are also concerned about conflating religious conservatism with violent extremism. It seems this is not the case for some of your officers who are charged with community engagement. We would like to also understand whether your view aligns with that of Commander Mak Chishty who is reported to have said over the weekend that the police need to move into the "private space" of Muslims to see if they are becoming extremist.
“Mr Chishty uses examples such as increased religiosity (e.g., aversion or abstaining from alcohol), children not celebrating Christmas and avoiding Marks & Spencer - all of which are hugely worrying. Such comments, if true, demonstrate a startling disconnect between the police and Muslim communities. It underscores our mutual goal to deepen dialogue between Muslim communities beyond the grip of privileged interlocutors."
