'We must STOP it!' BBC guests in heated clash on preventing future Manchester attacks
BBC guests clashed in a heated debate on whether monitoring potential extremists in the UK would infringe on human rights.
BBC guests in HEATED clash on challenging extremism
Journalist Douglas Murray argued with British Muslism activist Sara Khan over measures needed to be taken to prevent further terrorist attacks after the Manchester bombing.
Speaking on the Sunday Politics on the BBC, the pair clashed as they considered the right approach.
Murray, founder of think tank Centre of Social Cohesion, said: “I’ve not suggested and am not suggesting anyone has their human rights taken away.
“I’m suggesting that we do things that make sure 22 people don’t get blown up on an average Monday again.
Douglas Murray said action needed to be taken to prevent further attacks like the Manchester bombing
I’m suggesting that we do things that make sure 22 people don’t get blown up on an average Monday again.
“The idea that it is against human rights to, for instance, ask people simply to be opposed to people who wish to blow up our daughters in a pop venue on a Monday night, that isn’t restricting human rights, it’s not restricting human rights."
But human rights activist Khan, CEO of counter terrorism organisation Inspire, said it was about tackling the “Islamist narrative”.
Khan argued this would help “encourage” free speech, not restrict it.
“You can challenge extremism without having to abandon human rights and in my organisation there is a lot of work going into Muslim communities, working with teachers, where we’re saying we’ve got to actually counter the Islamist narrative,” she said.
“We’re not doing enough of that, so it’s not about actually closing down free speech, this is actually encouraging more of it to say that this is the most effective way of countering the Islamist narrative.”
Meanwhile, a counter terror leader bashed a BBC radio host after he put it to her that Prevent was a way to “spy on Muslims”.
Hifsa Haroon-Iqbal, West Midlands regional Prevent leader, told the Asian Network presenter he needed to “get out of his studio”.
Host Nihal Arthanayake said finding a Muslim who supported Prevent, which aims to stop people becoming terrorists, was “as hard as finding hen’s teeth”.
Speaking on the Asian Network’s Big Debate on the BBC, he said: “Do you know what, it’s as hard as finding hen’s teeth I’ve often thought when having conversations, to find a Muslim who actually does support Prevent.”