Community Counter to Prevent

A coalition of community, human rights and faith groups, joining together to critically examine the impact of Prevent.

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

On @BBCNews @RaheelMohammd talking abt #Islamophobia

We couldn’t care abt apologies from politicians unless it’s backed up by action

If you care about Islamophobia, don't demonise Muslim communities who enact the right to protest
Understand it's systemic and abolish #Prevent

[Raheel Mohammed @RaheelMohammd]

The consequences of political messaging and guidance to schools from Govt which refuses to acknowledge the collective grief many are feeling about the siege on Gaza

Schools do have the space to use their judgement and not buy into the hypocrisy of the Govt apolitical line

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

From the river to the sea is a chant that is heard across the world

But this expression of freedom is under attack and schools are encouraged through policies like #Prevent to view those who chant this as threatening

Below we explain why we must protect our right to be heard

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

We see children and their families policed and censored for raising their voices against the mass killing in Gaza

This call to action is a refusal to un-witness collective punishment in Gaza or here in our schools and streets

✍️ SIGN THE LETTER HERE: https://t.co/LCMV7I4R2N

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

Our #MuslimGirlsFence group is making an adventure activity book about resistance, freedom, joy

“Our opinions matter. We need to know how to change the world for the next generation. This is what we should be learning in school. FREE PALESTINE"

They wrote this beautiful poem🕊

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

The use of #Prevent or suspensions/detentions to police children who are upset and grieving as they see the collective punishment of Palestinians will break any trust between teacher and student/families

Instead classrooms can become spaces of care and critical learning

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

These exercises are designed not only to respect the intelligence of young people and their grief/anger but also, as Department of Education states, “use the judgement and expertise” of teachers

We cannot allow politicians to create division and a climate of fear in our schools

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

🧵 Thousands of young people marching in the streets as they witness the killing of Palestinians

And they walk into schools with the need to question

In response we have worked with teachers to create strategies for safe spaces to learn rather than be punished and censored

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

Sharing this again as we’re hearing from teachers and families who are horrified by the guidance coming out of the Department of Education on the seige of Gaza

We’re creating some resources that create safer classrooms for all communities and not rely on punitive approaches

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

The Dfe guidance does state teachers should “use their judgement and expertise”

This means that schools are meant to be places of expression and learning not over-policing which is the focus of this letter

Trust between teachers and students requires listening with compassion

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

Government approved material is what it says on the tin. And we’ve all heard approved messaging from politicians on Gaza

Teachers now need to create classrooms of care and safety, not punishment

And #Prevent runs counter to your training on inclusion/safety and anti-racism

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

The Department of Education letter refuses to recognise the pain of Muslim communities with the Gaza seige - although rightly recognising the pain of Jewish communities

It doesn’t even contain the word Palestinian

This is education the British Values way - causing division

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

Schools have been told to use #Prevent or detentions/exclusions if they hear/see anything of “concern” on the siege of Gaza 

 A collective punishment 

Schools say they are apolitical, but the decision to ramp up Prevent is a political one to silence Muslim/Black/brown children

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

Our work in prisons with Muslims records the abuse of human rights, and the toll this has on mental health 

We are building a free community-led therapy service for those harmed by the legal system called Coming Home

To read more about Muslims in prison: https://t.co/cx6qs3FIYh

[Raheel Mohammed @RaheelMohammd]

Introduction of Pava led to a legal challenge from the Equality and Human Rights Commission

It showed disproportionate use of force in prisons against younger people, black people and Muslim people, which the MOJ was unable to explain

Have equality assessments been conducted

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

From our #MuslimGirlsFence work, we know that experiences of Islamophobia, racism, and sexism can make Muslim girls feel anxious and isolated. We recognise there is a real need for culturally competent mental health resources that focus on the unique needs of Muslim girls.

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

📢 Check out ‘Making Space for Healing’, our youth-led mental health resource for Muslim girls. The zine addresses how Islamophobia can impact wellbeing, and it offers activities for Muslim girls to reclaim their identity and explore their emotions:
https://t.co/4Ee1aoa7Wy

[Raheel Mohammed @RaheelMohammd]

The ‘split-second’ argument can be fatal for Black/brown communities

As @ForensicArchi has shown, it was used to justify the killing of Mark Duggan

Officers believed Duggan to be holding a firearm – a belief that proved to be fatal, and that an inquest found was not true

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

Under new #Prevent Guidance #SuellaBraverman, prison staff will have more discretion to judge behaviour of those in prison as ‘radical’. More discretion to put them in segregation, ban them from religious prayer, send them to separation centres – violations of their human rights.

[Maslaha @Maslaha]

Did you hear about the one with the schoolkid referred to Prevent for drawing a pic of a gun? Or the one about the guy in prison who raised suspicions for attending prayers more often?