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The British Conservative government has for some time embarked upon a project to make life difficult for ordinary Muslims. We have spoken previously about its policy of Prevent, an extraordinary state plan to compel all public servants to monitor Muslims in their midst and report on them if they showed signs of extremism. This project has enveloped the community within a cloud of suspicion, spread fear and self censorship and led to a series of malicious or ignorant allegations that has scarred thousands. 

The project has failed to root out violent extremism and has alienated a large number of Muslims, yet the response of the government is to tighten the screws. It’s failure is because it is not punitive enough according to the Home Secretary. This is where the new Shawcross review comes in. William Shawcross, known for his anti-Islamic opinions was cynically commissioned to lead an independent review into Prevent and suggest a way forward. The report suggests that normative Muslim positions should be viewed with suspicion, including believing that Islam should be the basis of one’s identity. Anyone who doubted it can now only conclude that the government is looking to make the free practice of Islam impossible in Britain and wants to outlaw basic Islamic opinions by connecting them to extremism. This insanity has broad support, the current Labour opposition showing little dissent – lest they are seen to be ‘soft’ on Muslims. 

Dr Layla Aitlhadj, my guest today, has been a tenacious campaigner to expose the extent of to which the government has violated the most basic rights of ordinary Muslim citizens. Her organisation Prevent Watch have helped countless Muslim families that have been caught up in this net of accusation. Her diligence and assiduous approach to Prevent cases has helped shine a light on the flawed strategy. I ask her about the Shawcross review and its implications. I found what she told me towards the end of the interview truly chilling. 

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