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£500,000 for fight to beat extremists
Cash will fund Muslim religious leaders’ network
A NETWORK of Muslim religious leaders is being set up across the borough funded by government cash targeted at preventing violent extremism.
Imams will be offered training courses in drugs counselling, which they can combine with spiritual guidance as part of a scheme which is already funding projects in Islington.
Last year, the borough received £74,000 from the fund. Over the next three years, more than £500,000 will be diverted to the borough to support projects aimed at reaching Muslim people.
Lib Dem council deputy leader Councillor Terry Stacy said: “Islington is certainly not a hotbed of extremism and its many Muslim groups are hugely important members of the community. This money helps us build even stronger links and run projects to reach vulnerable people who might otherwise fall outside the net.
“We’re committed to making sure Islington stays a place where people from a huge range of backgrounds live side-by-side in peace.”
The government’s £6 million Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder Fund was created last year as part of a “battle for hearts and minds”.
The Department for Communities and Local Government says the money is part of “a new action plan to step up work with Muslim communities to isolate, prevent and defeat violent extremism”.
Schemes in Islington to receive funding have included Listen Up for its Young Muslim Voices project (£47,400), Muslim Welfare House for the Imam Network (£24,000) and Islington Faith Forum for a mapping exercise of Muslim groups (£3,000).
This year, £145,00 is being divided between the Young Muslim Voices project, Islington Somali Project and schemes set up through the Arab Advice Bureau. This includes a Muslim outreach programme to help vulnerable men on the streets, particularly around Finsbury Park and Blackstock Road.
The Imam Network being set up will have monthly themed meetings. A Town Hall spokesman said: “The Imam Network will offer practical training about issues such as drugs, and how substance abusers can be helped.
“Parents worried about their children’s drug use, or users themselves, may well go to a faith leader for advice.
“The idea of the training is that imams, as well as giving spiritual guidance, might be able to help direct drug users or their parents towards services that can help tackle addiction or abuse.
“We are certainly not suggesting there is a particular problem with drug use in Islington’s Muslim communities.” |
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