Sara Khan

[-Talbot-]

So what is the problem?

I have had this flashing up on BBC news all day, I'm surprised someone hasn't posted a thread about it already.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-42807560

[NoMercy]

She sounds perfectly qualified to me.

[fiction-factory]

I heard a fawning George Galloway agreeing with every word spoken by a so called expert- Muslim doctor of some Muslim studies or similar from Oxford (not Oxford University)- on Talk Radio. They spouted a lot stuff about how can someone appointed by governement be impartial and gain the respect of muslims.They said we needed someone who could educate radical muslims and win hearts and minds would be better. if only it were that easy

[naomi24]

Change requires willingness and effort, neither of which will be forthcoming from the Muslim community. That’s the problem.

[-Talbot-]

The Muslim Council of Britain
today expressed its grave concerns about the government’s counter-extremism strategy following its announcement of Sara Khan as the new head of the Commission for Countering Extremism.

Mend
We call upon the Government to reverse this decision with immediate effect.

Diane Abbott
“The appointment of Sara Khan has drawn cross-party criticism. It seems to be a very ill-advised appointment, based on the widespread perception that she has only come to prominence because of her support for the Government’s Prevent strategy. It is not an appointment that will build confidence across our communities.”

Baroness Warsi
‘disturbed’ by appointment of Sara Khan as anti-extremism tsar


Sara Khan must be a nasty piece of work ... surely AB's political animals must have an opinion on this?

[naomi24]

//Sara Khan must be a nasty piece of work//

////Sara Khan (born January 1980 is a British Muslim human rights activist and the CEO of Inspire, an independent non-governmental organisation working to counter extremism and gender inequality. Khan is a contributor to The Guardian and The Independent newspapers, as well as The Huffington Post and has made appearances on British television and radio. She has been interviewed for the BBC's HARDtalk and Desert Island Discs. ////

Hmmm…. can’t see anything that untoward there.

[naomi24]

Sorry, forgot to post the link to that ^.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Khan_(human_rights_activist)

[baza]

She gets my vote , but then she would wouldn't she.

[-Talbot-]

naomi
Khan is a contributor to The Guardian and The Independent newspapers, as well as The Huffington Post and has made appearances on British television and radio. She has been interviewed for the BBC's HARDtalk and Desert Island Discs



https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/25/concerned-sara-khan-anti-extremism-british-muslims

[baza]

Thanks for that link naomi.

[douglas9401]

She has the uncooperative, the wilfully blind and the enablers all shouting the odds together.

The notable worthies in the article like to have it all their own way all of the time, maybe worth a different approach for a change seeing some action instead of constantly pandering to the shrill.

[Deskdiary]

This is very easy for me.

If Diane Abbott thinks it's a bad idea, then it's probably a good idea.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Problem 1: Ms Khan does not understand the ideological roots of Islamic extremism and, therefore, won't have the foggiest about how to counter it.

(But this will be true of anybody appointed to the role by government. Mind you, I think Maajid Nawaz fancies himself for the job.)

Problem 2: No Muslim "group" will co-operate in good faith with the Prevent strategy or any other like it, and most especially not the MCB, CAGE and MEND, all of which organisations are themselves extremist, just not violently so.

[New Judge]

I think the insoluble problem with all Muslims is that they think there is nothing at all wrong with their religion. No government "tsar" will alter that if they work for all eternity.

[Spicerack]

Appeasement doesn't seem to work.
I'd fight fire with fire.

[Peter Pedant]

Yeah "protect" is crap
truly crap
I have posted this before - I was invited to an anti terroristen training day - and the Arab and Asian doctors took me to one side and told how it was so awful and designed to alienate - Mohd Haneef was portrayed as a criminal whereas he has had a few hundred thousand Aus dollars paid to him as a result of perjured evidence offered by the Oz Fed prosecutor - Mick Hilty I think.

The 'facilitators' said that the content was nothing to do with them and they were there to facilitate and no more. They took the view of "so-what you're squawking and what you are meant to be is taking all this on board" - all we do is mark you down as a bad audience.

There was no address to write to dispute erm 'wrong' "facts" and so I wrote to the head of protect - one Simon Rowley - CC darn Sarf. I think and he replied - - - "it is meant to work like that." I politely hoped he would get his desired knighthood. ( he hasnt yet)

Deeply hopeless.
deeply deeply stupidly hopeless

[Peter Pedant]

come on come on - The Muslims worked as hard as the Christians during the Manchester bomb May 17

150 pakistani school kids were butchered a few years ago
and 250 Sufi Muslims in Egypt a few weeks ago - 'wrong kind' of Muslim - altho I have to say I am not used to Sufis being called heretics by their own lot. ( whirling dervishes)
and I note ISIS have zeroed 90 more in Kabul to day
( NB not many Christians in Kabul)

[vetuste_ennemi]

Concerning your first post, Peter, I assume you're talking about PREVENT. Can you tell us more about the meeting, give us an example of the "designed to alienate" content, and explain what you and "Arab and Asian doctors" were doing there?

Re your second post: I think these facts are well-known. What point are you making about counter-terrorism?

[naomi24]

Talbot, oh dear. Strike the Guardian.

[-Talbot-]

naomi, the Guardian doesn't like to hear any uncomfortable truths even from one of its contributors.

[naomi24]

Evidently. The Guardian is nothing if not politically correct.