"Social media counter-extremism isn't good enough"
A radicalisation ban on social media must be enforced properly to protect kids in our region.
That's what we're hearing from Nabeela Ali, who runs an anti-extremism workshop in Newcastle.
Anti-Radicalisation Mentoring & Awareness Network (AMAN) was set up to promote community resilience, social harmony and democratic values against both violent and non-violent extremist agendas.
Nabeela set it up after her family was devastated by the effects of radicalisation, when her brother joined the terrorist group Siph-Isahaba as a teenager.
She’s now calling on better control over social media, to make sure young people from our region aren’t radicalised online.
It’s as Google, Facebook and Twitter will give evidence to the Commons Home Affairs Committee later on countering extremism.
Nabeela said:
“It’s very painful, extremely painful. You have no idea if someone is radicalised how the family suffers.”
“I’ve never seen my mum sleeping for many years. Every time when I see her she is on the holy mat and she’s crying and she is praying over and over, save my son, save my son. But it didn’t work.”
“We need to put a strong ban in place. Block all those websites and put a stop to all those who want to educate all extremism, not just Islamic extremism.”
“Young people, they’re not fully aware about Islam they are unknown about Islamic values and teachings, they’re not given the right knowledge. We must keep an eye on those social media sites and we must protect our children.”
Head of the North East Counter Terrorism Unit, Detective Chief Supt Clive Wain said
“Daesh and other groups seek to radicalise individuals online. Tackling extremist material online is important to protect the public and prevent offences that incite or encourage acts of terrorism”.
“Members of the public can report material they see online to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (www.gov.uk/terrorism) or contact local police with any concerns”
“At a national level a specialist police team removes, on average, over 1000 pieces of material each week which breaches the Terrorism Act 2006.”