Prevent-ing dissent: How the UK’s counterterrorism strategy is eroding democracy

This report reveals that, in the United Kingdom, fundamental rights and equality within social justice movements are being eroded by Prevent - the country’s strategy that aims to stop people from embracing forms of ‘extremism’ that the government claims could lead to terrorism. The fundamental rights being eroded include the freedoms of thought and belief, freedom of association and the rights to speak out and protest peacefully against state policies. Our findings suggest that, while the government’s use of the strategy continues to disproportionately impact Muslim communities, the targeting of so-called ‘nonviolent extremism’ is producing a climate in which people from non-Muslim backgrounds are also losing their ability to engage in nonviolent protest and civic action. These findings are based on interviews we conducted with people in the UK from across a range of social movements, including environmental and anti-racism movements; international solidarity campaign groups; and members of civil society groups from Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds. We also interviewed educational professionals to understand how their officially designated role of nurturing students into becoming socially aware and politically active citizens is affected by their legal duty under Prevent to monitor and report students for signs of ‘extremism’.