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Radicalisation awareness kit: schools warned not to ‘jump to conclusions’ Radicalisation awareness kit: schools warned not to ‘jump to conclusions’
(2 days later)
Experts and community leaders have warned schools against “jumping to conclusions” about students who display the signs of radicalisation listed in a new government information pack, fearing similar incidents as the arrest of a Muslim teenager last week in Texas for building a “hoax bomb” which was actually a homemade clock.Experts and community leaders have warned schools against “jumping to conclusions” about students who display the signs of radicalisation listed in a new government information pack, fearing similar incidents as the arrest of a Muslim teenager last week in Texas for building a “hoax bomb” which was actually a homemade clock.
Related: Ahmed Mohamed withdraws from Texas school that suspended him over clockRelated: Ahmed Mohamed withdraws from Texas school that suspended him over clock
On Monday the minister for counter-terrorism, Michael Keenan, issued state education ministers with a “radicalisation awareness information kit”.On Monday the minister for counter-terrorism, Michael Keenan, issued state education ministers with a “radicalisation awareness information kit”.
The pack lists warning signs of a young person on the path to violent extremism, including “identifying with a group that is different to the mainstream” at the lowest level, and “hostility towards people they see as the enemy” at the highest.The pack lists warning signs of a young person on the path to violent extremism, including “identifying with a group that is different to the mainstream” at the lowest level, and “hostility towards people they see as the enemy” at the highest.
It is careful to draw on a range of case studies, including environmental terrorists and white nationalists, as well as Islamic extremists. It is careful to draw on a range of case studies, including environmental activists and white nationalists, as well as Islamic extremists.
Clarke Jones, the co-director of an anti-radicalisation centre at the Australian National University, urged teachers to use the warning signs carefully – especially in involving the police.Clarke Jones, the co-director of an anti-radicalisation centre at the Australian National University, urged teachers to use the warning signs carefully – especially in involving the police.
“Really, when you’re making an assessment of someone it needs to be done by a proper healthcare professional,” he said.“Really, when you’re making an assessment of someone it needs to be done by a proper healthcare professional,” he said.
“If someone is deemed at risk for whatever indicator, my concern is, where are those young people going to be referred – to the police, or counselling, or intervention?”“If someone is deemed at risk for whatever indicator, my concern is, where are those young people going to be referred – to the police, or counselling, or intervention?”
There was a risk ordinary teenage defiance could be reclassified a national security threat. “You need to be very careful kids are not just boasting in the playground, as opposed to showing genuine signs of radicalisation,” Jones said.There was a risk ordinary teenage defiance could be reclassified a national security threat. “You need to be very careful kids are not just boasting in the playground, as opposed to showing genuine signs of radicalisation,” Jones said.
Another expert in violent extremism, Anne Aly, said reducing the complex process of radicalisation “to a checklist of behaviours for general consumption” could result in the “targeting of Muslim students and cases like that of Ahmed Mohamed”.Another expert in violent extremism, Anne Aly, said reducing the complex process of radicalisation “to a checklist of behaviours for general consumption” could result in the “targeting of Muslim students and cases like that of Ahmed Mohamed”.
Pictures of a handcuffed Mohamed went viral last week after the 14-year-old’s teachers feared a clock he had assembled was a fake bomb.Pictures of a handcuffed Mohamed went viral last week after the 14-year-old’s teachers feared a clock he had assembled was a fake bomb.
Aly said a similar checklist model had been tried in the UK and seen children as young as three identified as potential extremists.Aly said a similar checklist model had been tried in the UK and seen children as young as three identified as potential extremists.
Hass Dellal, whose Australian Multicultural Foundation contributed to the information pack, said he was mindful of the “mistakes” in the UK model, and teachers should not “jump to conclusions” about their students.Hass Dellal, whose Australian Multicultural Foundation contributed to the information pack, said he was mindful of the “mistakes” in the UK model, and teachers should not “jump to conclusions” about their students.
“We’ve got to be careful, [their conduct] could be a sign of any form of antisocial behaviour,” he said.“We’ve got to be careful, [their conduct] could be a sign of any form of antisocial behaviour,” he said.
Radicalisation awareness needed to be incorporated into existing school programs, such as those targeting domestic violence and bullying, and not run “as a stand alone program that may be seen to target one group of students”, he said.Radicalisation awareness needed to be incorporated into existing school programs, such as those targeting domestic violence and bullying, and not run “as a stand alone program that may be seen to target one group of students”, he said.
“Singling out particular communities is the worst thing you could want.”“Singling out particular communities is the worst thing you could want.”
A member of the New South Wales parliament, Jihad Dib, who headed Punchbowl Boys’ high school for seven years, said the roots of radicalisation would be better tackled by more investment in school counsellors.A member of the New South Wales parliament, Jihad Dib, who headed Punchbowl Boys’ high school for seven years, said the roots of radicalisation would be better tackled by more investment in school counsellors.
“You can actually address it more by investing in counsellors, youth workers in schools, people who are actually engaging with kids, rather than going off a hunch or checklist,” he said.“You can actually address it more by investing in counsellors, youth workers in schools, people who are actually engaging with kids, rather than going off a hunch or checklist,” he said.
The Australian federal police said last month about 10 “school-aged students” had been enrolled in community programs to stop them joining extremist groups overseas.The Australian federal police said last month about 10 “school-aged students” had been enrolled in community programs to stop them joining extremist groups overseas.
About 120 Australians are thought to be fighting in Syria and Iraq with Islamic State and similar groups.About 120 Australians are thought to be fighting in Syria and Iraq with Islamic State and similar groups.