Muslim communities, counter-terrorism and counter-radicalisation: A critically reflective approach to engagement

In a post 9/11 context, Muslims' responsibilities as active citizens are being increasingly framed by anti-terror measures, which encourage internal community surveillance so that the responsible Muslim citizen is expected to work with the authorities to help reduce the risk of terrorism. However, in the aftermath of a series of bombings and attempted bombings in the UK, there has been little reflection about how, and the ways in which, Muslim communities can be engaged for the purposes of counter-terrorism, including counter-radicalisation, and certainly no substantial academic research. The following article sets out a brief framework that might serve to set out the main components of a critically reflective approach to engaging with Muslim communities for the purposes of counter-terrorism and counter-radicalisation.