UK combats the spread of radical Islam in its territory
Trends Update
The UK has decided to change its strategy against terrorism and radical Islam at a time of increasing dissolution of the central Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. The country will now combat the spread of Islamist ideology in its territory, among British Muslims, by education, discussion, and counter-propaganda.
Under the new strategy developed by the government of Gordon Brown, the belief is that ideological confrontation is more necessary now that Al Qaeda has lost some of its leaders. Now, the terrorist threat is more volatile with attacks from minority cells that have learned to use the Internet for their ideological propaganda.
The three-year program funded at 155 million euros focuses on ‘preventing’ violent extremism through the misguided use of jihad among young British Muslims. There are also plans to establish educational programs through Muslim organizations both in the UK and abroad, with the aim of enabling young people to adopt an unequivocal attitude in relation to fundamental values such as democracy, free speech, and respect for women.
The British Government is convinced that Al Qaeda as an organization may be dying, but its ideology will live through smaller groups. That is why the necessary strategic action is to focus on the younger generations to prevent extremism to take root.
The program also has a well-defined anti-terror strategy for purposes of extreme importance of security, especially towards the 2012 London Olympics. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has launched a project where some 60,000 citizens, including employees of hotel and shops, are being trained on how to deal with a terrorist attack.
