Faith Matters and British Muslim Youth launched a National Youth Consultation on extremism to look at the on-line drivers around what may be influencing young people in our country today. The launch of the Consultation took place on 7/7 and was attended by Bradford West MP Naz Shah and Sir Simon Hughes, the former Southwark and Bermondsey MP for 32 years.
Speaking about the ‘forgotten voices’ of young people in the speculation on what influences young people, (allied to press stories highlighting cases of youth extremism), Muhbeen Hussain of British Muslim Youth stated that:
“For far too long, there have been the forgotten voices of young people who have solutions to some of the problems affecting them. This national consultation will look at on-line drivers through the lens of far right extremism and Al Qaeda and ISIS inspired extremist ideology and how that is promoted through the internet to target young hearts and minds.”
Fiyaz Mughal OBE, the Director of Faith Matters added that:
“There has been much talk about extremism and young people, but rarely have young people been consulted with or listened to. This National Youth Consultation will take in 5 major cities and will spend time listening to young people, those who have returned to this country from areas like Syria or Iraq and those young people working in the field of radicalisation and extremism and other relevant bodies.
This independent National Youth Consultation on extremism is timely and much needed. We will also be looking to fill a Commissioner board in September who will listen to and review testimony and data presented to them nationally in open public meetings.”
If you are interested in playing a part in this National Youth Consultation, you can get in touch with the Director of Faith Matters on info@faith-matters.co.uk
