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@Channel4News broadcast a segment on Palestine which included this image from a Prevent training module. The segment claimed that 'vocal support for Palestine' and 'opposition to Israeli settlements in Gaza' are viewed as "potential indicators of extremism" (1/7)
@Channel4News broadcast a segment on Palestine which included this image from a Prevent training module. The segment claimed that 'vocal support for Palestine' and 'opposition to Israeli settlements in Gaza' are viewed as "potential indicators of extremism" (1/7)
The film omitted or obscured the text below these statements which reads:
"It is not extremist to hold any of these views – provided they are not expressed in a way that harasses others or incites violence – and this is the fundamental point." (2/7)
"It is not extremist to hold any of these views – provided they are not expressed in a way that harasses others or incites violence – and this is the fundamental point." (2/7)
The next slide goes further, "Holding the views on the previous slide is legitimate provided they are not expressed or furthered by statements, deeds or actions which result in harassment, intimidation or threats of violence against individuals or society itself" (3/7)
As if these clarifications weren't enough, the accompanying trainer notes say:
"Here is a list of contentious topics (Slide 12) – its purpose is to state that holding any of these views is legitimate (eg it is not extremist to support the creation of a Palestinian state)." (4/7)
"Here is a list of contentious topics (Slide 12) – its purpose is to state that holding any of these views is legitimate (eg it is not extremist to support the creation of a Palestinian state)." (4/7)
The resources are for Universities and were jointly developed by a former University Secretary and Pro-Vice-Chancellor and an experienced Prevent practitioner. They have been freely available online since 2017, in their unedited format. (5/7) https://www.safecampuscommunities.ac.uk/training/1-an-introduction-to-the-prevent-duty-as-it-affects-higher-education
No one claims Prevent is perfect, and even with polling consistently showing it to be roundly supported by the majority of the public, those of us who work in counter radicalisation / terrorism are never complacent about improving our efforts. (6/7) https://counterextremism.org.uk/new-research-confirms-gulf-between-reported-views-of-prevent-and-what-the-public-actually-think/
In light of the facts now being made public, will @FactCheck be applying their rigorous critique to this wilful misrepresentation of UK counter terrorism policy, and will @Channel4News have the integrity to rectify this? (7/7)
Also worth adding a further question here. Did the filmmakers or C4 approach either DfE or Home Office for clarification to validate or contextualise the materials, or ascertain where they originated from?
