This being “part of fresh plans to prevent radicalisation and address community concerns.”
“Muslim youths to advise ministers,” from BBC, October 7 (thanks to Kyros):
A group of young British Muslims are being named as advisers to ministers as part of a drive against extremism.
The move comes as part of fresh plans to prevent radicalisation and address community concerns.
The 22 Muslims aged 16-25 will hold regular meetings with key ministers and civil servants.
Muslims called for a voice for youngsters in an official plan after the 2005 London suicide bombings which killed 52 people.
So the logic is that, if the Muslim youth don’t get a “voice” — one to “advise” ministers with — more suicide attacks may occur? More “frustration-leads-to-violence” logic.
The advisory group comes as the government is rethinking how to prevent violent extremism, a key element of counter-terrorism strategy.
Officials have acknowledged more work needs to be done to reach out into Muslim communities.[…]
They [Muslim youth] will be asked to give direct views to ministers on key issues including extremism, discrimination, citizenship and how they see Islam fitting into British society.
In turn, officials hope they will take the dialogue with government back into communities. The 22 have been partly chosen because of their track-records of community action and volunteering.
One of the advisers, 18-year-old medical student Aziza Al Yassin, said: “I hope to highlight the forgotten achievements of the Muslim community in Britain, as well as the areas where improvement is needed, not only with regards to tackling violence and extremism, but also in helping develop our mosques, education and interaction with the wider community.[…]
Ministers are understood to be prepared to have frank conversations with the advisors over foreign policy and other issues playing a role in terrorism recruitment.