UK counter-extremism programme violates human rights, UN expert says

‘Violations of the rights of religious and ethnic minorities are being enabled by ‘deradicalisation’ policies and practice,’ says special rapporteur, Lizzie Dearden reports

Prevent aims to spot and stop people’s radicalisation before they become a terror threat

Britain’s controversial counter-extremism programme violates human rights, a United Nations expert has said.

A report issued on Wednesday suggested that Prevent should be scrapped in its current form, because it targets ill-defined “extremism” as well as violence and terrorism.

The special rapporteur, Fionnuala Ni Aolain, expressed concern over the duty placed on teachers, social workers, NHS staff and others to report signs of radicalisation.