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‘ISIL-like threats call for move into private space of UK Muslims’

Monday, 25 May 2015 6:28 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 25 May 2015 6:28 PM ]

A senior British police commander believes ISIL-like threats call for a move into the private space of UK Muslims, says report.

In an interview with the Guardian, Mak Chishty, Britain’s most senior Muslim police chief, said there was now a need for “a move into the private space” of Muslims to spot views that could show the beginning of ‘radicalization’ far earlier.

He said this could be shown by subtle changes in behavior, such as shunning certain shops, citing the example of Marks & Spencer, the report added.

The official said children as young as five could be influenced by “propaganda” and thus should be countered with intensified monitoring to detect the earliest signs of anti-Western sentiment.

Now Hafsa Kara-Mustapha, political commentator, says the British government, “in particular this one,” has tried to create “a climate of fear.”

Such comments “actually comfort the radicals within the British government in their policies.”

She also suggested that such policy would see any opposition to Israel and its products as an instance of anti-West posture.

This is while Chishty said friends and family of youngsters should be intervening much earlier, watching out for subtle, unexplained changes, which could also include sudden negative attitudes towards alcohol, social occasions and Western clothing.

They should challenge and understand what caused such changes in behavior, the police commander said, and seek help, if needs be from the police, if they are worried.

MA/GHN

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