A common theme being rammed down our throats is how the government’s anti-radicalisation scheme, Prevent is not just about Muslims.

I agree to a certain extent it is about challenging all forms of extremism but let us not kid ourselves. It is about essentially about Muslims and Islamic extremism in particular.

And there is a clear reason for this – it is extremism amongst Muslims that needs to be tackled.

If a non-Muslim states this fact they are automatically put into the bracket of ‘Islamophobe.' We like to put people into little brackets because it is a bonafide way of not challenging the issue at hand head on.

Of course, a whole load of writers and editors in the rightwing media could well do with going on the Prevent programme themselves but it is Muslims that the strategy is focused on.

There is widespread distrust of Prevent because it is clearly targeting how Muslims are ‘allowed’ to think and what is deemed ‘acceptable’ in modern day Britain. You only have to read into the background to the strategy and its aim which is, bluntly, to counter predefined narratives.

So, when I read somewhere that Prevent is not about Muslims – all I can say is 'please, don’t patronise us.'
 
It is about Muslims and to state otherwise is to try to pull wool over our eyes.

The reason it is about Muslims is because in the past decade there have been instances where Muslims have looked to kill innocent people in this country. Why do some Muslims still not think this is the reason this strategy is in place?

Blame foreign wars all you want but can you quite honestly say with your hand on your heart that if Muslim lands were not being invaded we would be free from any form of extremism? We are deluded if that actually would be the case.

The real issue is now we have several distinct groups who would rather not admit their religion is being used to share ‘extremist ‘ ideals.

We know this takes place but we have religious leaders and commentators who simply think that by silencing any criticism of their culture and religion, the issue will go away.

Let me state an undeniable fact – they won’t.

They are no better than a government which wants us to embrace Prevent and all its associated projects by dressing it up in some sort of slick public relations campaign.

Public money: The ‘Haves’ and ‘Have nots’

Then we have the ‘haves and have nots.’ The ‘haves’ are those Muslims who take the Prevent money and the ‘have nots’ are the ones who decide they would rather fight against it in the vain hope someone will notice their stand against oppression and free speech.

Strangely enough the same folk won’t bat an eye lid when the shoe is on the other foot and it is they who are curtailing free speech in any way.

Recently, Amber Rudd the Home Secretary told us that Prevent is here to stay and those who have a problem with it should come up with some alternative.

Here, is the reason there will be few alternatives at the moment.
Coming up with an alternative means the government must talk to organisations and individuals who won't be first on the guest list when the Daily Mail sends out their Christmas party invites this year.

We cannot simply in this day and age of Muslim paranoia be seen to be talking to anyone who might in some way embarrass our security efforts the next time a Muslim plots to take part in a mass killing. Sorry, but in that one paragraph lies the conundrum.

Any government funded project comes with its set of conditions where organisations must show they are able to provide evidence that their methods are working and reaching the communities they serve.

A whole load of Prevent funded projects are trying to achieve this without letting on where their money is coming from. From Prevent courses to seminars to cleverly disguised PR campaigns – the aim is to make some money.

I have more respect for those organisations and individuals who will state that they are doing Prevent funded work and show exactly what they aim to achieve.

Just tell me what you are doing and who is funding you, at least I will respect your honesty without thinking I am the subject of some grand government conspiracy whose job it is to tackle thought crime.

Why the secrecy over Prevent funded money?

It is clear that in recent years a whole industry has developed around Prevent and projects associated with it where public funded money is being used to achieve specific targets.

We have been here before. In past decades the government would throw money at organisations to engage ethnic minorities. We ‘ethnic minorities’ as we were known then would swallow it up like farm animals.

Whole campaigns were developed and the familiar faces would look to eat from the public funds trough. We all did it. It helped us get MBE’s and other honours and we become the faces of the ‘friendly’ minority.

The ones we could rely upon to say the right things whenever anything anywhere happened on the planet that was in any way associated with Asians.

Prevent funding is no different. The difference it seems is that no-one actually wants to say they are taking the money, as to do so makes them appear as ‘sell outs.'

All of a sudden your message is sullied and people no longer see your organisation or what you say but who is controlling your message.

The underlying message is that the present government has decided to engage with friendly ethnics. It has decided clearly that there is no point with making good with the wider group because these ones ask too many uncomfortable questions.

To hell with the ‘others’ as they don’t really affect our voter base. The ones who we want  to support are those who will help to hammer home the narrative that ‘Muslims’ and ‘minorities’ have  problems and these problems need to be tackled head on.

Whilst the others who didn’t get anything from the pot decide to bark from the side lines.

A fair share of the critics are simply moaning because they aren’t getting money to spend on their pet projects. 

Here’s a simple solution; create a pot of cash and let these other groups spend it how they deem fit. May that be community cohesion, youth engagement and classes.

And see how quickly the dogs stop barking.