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Fri 23/07/10 17:47

Dear all,

Please find attached this week‟s News Summary. The weekly summary is intended to
provide background information to topical news stories and issues that may resonate in
communities. The weekly summary also includes links to interesting news articles that people
may wish to circulate further.

This week‟s summary includes coverage of:

 Ministerial comments on the Burqa ban
 The Kabul International Conference backing the handover to Afghan forces by 2014
 DEMOS Report calling for the abolition of Prevent
 Lord Carlile Annual Report
 Former Head of MI5 claims the Iraq invasion raised the terror threat

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As ever, we would appreciate your feedback on the format, content, and timing of this
document, as well as suggestions on issues you would like it to cover.

Kind regards,

Heather Butler
Senior Communications Advisor,
News Coordination Team,
RICU (Research, Information and Communications Unit)

Tel: 020 7035 0236

heather.butler19@homeoffice.x.gsi.gov.uk

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Weekly News Summary
rd
Friday 23 July 2010
Key Issues
Kabul Conference backs handover to Afghan forces by 2014
On Tuesday, representatives from 70 partner counties, including the Foreign and International
Development Secretaries, as well as international and regional organisations and financial institutions
attended the Kabul International Conference on Afghanistan. On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary
William Hague made a statement explaining the outcome of the Kabul Conference and progress in
Afghanistan, which can be read in full here.

Key points
This has been an important and useful conference to mark the continued international
partnership in support of Afghan leadership. This is the first conference to be held in
Afghanistan at Foreign Minister level and to be run by the Afghan government.
The final Communiqué from the conference said: “The international community expressed its
support for the President of Afghanistan‟s objective that the Afghan National Security Forces
should lead and conduct military operations in all provinces by the end of 2014.”

Associated articles: BBC – Conference endorses Afghan goal for security handover

Report calls for Prevent programme to be abolished

A report published on Wednesday by independent think tank Demos has said that Prevent should be
dismantled. The report argued that the focus of Prevent work should be solely on stopping people
with the intent to act or who are being targeted by recruiters, and not on community engagement and
cohesion.

Key points
Prevent reflects the recognition that we cannot arrest our way out of terrorism or indeed
protect ourselves to the point where the threat disappears. We also need to address the threat
by stopping people supporting violent extremism or becoming terrorists in the first place.
This is not a substitute for having to investigate and arrest people who are engaged in terrorist
activity – it is a vital addition to it. The police will continue to take action against those who
defend or advocate the use of violence to further their causes.
The Government believes the Prevent programme isn‟t working as effectively as it could and
that is why it has committed to reviewing it.
The review will look at, among other things: separating the Prevent strategy from wider
community cohesion and integration work; how Prevent objectives are prioritised and how they
are delivered locally.
The Government will report back on the findings of the review by January 2011.

Associated articles: Evening Standard - Counter-terrorism projects 'are alienating Muslim

communities'

Ministers discuss burqa ban

Following the vote by the French National Assembly in favour of a law banning wearing the burqa in
public, Immigration Minister Damien Green said in an interview with the Sunday Times that banning
the burqa would be an „un-British‟ thing to do. He added that there was no prospect of the Coalition
Government proposing a vote on a burqa ban in Britain.

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Immigration Minister Damien Green said:

“I stand personally on the feeling that telling people what they can and can’t wear, if they’re just
walking down the street, is a rather un-British thing to do. We’re a tolerant and mutually respectful
society. “There are times, clearly, when you’ve got to be able to identify yourself, and people have
got to be able to see your face, but I think it’s very unlikely and it would be undesirable for the
British Parliament to try and pass a law dictating what people wore.”

Key points
Such laws are totally out of keeping with our nation's tradition of religious tolerance. An
arbitrary ban on what citizens can wear in the street would be an attack on the British rights of
freedom of speech, freedom to associate and freedom of worship.

Associated articles: The Guardian – Copying French ban on burqa would be un-British, says
minister

Lord Carlile Publishes Annual Report

On Thursday Lord Carlile published his annual report into the Operation in 2009 of The Terrorism Act
2000 and Part 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006. The media has reported on Lord Carlile‟s findings
including his assertion that websites advocating violence pose a significant security threat, that more
terror suspects should be encouraged to plead guilty and his continued support for control orders.

Minister for Security and Counter Terrorism Baroness Neville Jones said:

“I am grateful to Lord Carlile for his detailed report and thank him for his continued work in carrying
out his role of independent reviewer for terrorism legislation so effectively.

I will carefully consider his views and recommendations. Given a number of Lord Carlile’s key
recommendations relate to powers that are being considered in the review of counter-terrorism and
security powers that I reported to the House on 13 July 2010, I intend to respond to his report after
that review has been completed.”

Associated articles: Evening Standard - More terror suspects must be sent home, Peer tells MP‟s

Former Head of MI5 claims Iraq invasion raised terror threat

The former head of MI5, Lady Eliza Manningham-Buller, told the Chilcot Inquiry into the UK‟s role in
Iraq that the invasion of Iraq increased the threat of terrorist attacks in Britain. Lady Manningham-
Buller said that the invasion of Iraq was a factor behind the radicalisation of young Muslims in the UK.
Key points
The Government is confident the Chilcot Inquiry will play a vital role in learning lessons from
Britain's engagement in Iraq. The Inquiry will be comprehensive and independent. It is not a
trial or an impeachment, but an effort to learn for the future.
The Inquiry will be able to address itself to all aspects of preparation for the military campaign,
the military campaign itself, and post-conflict stabilisation and reconstruction.
The holding of an Inquiry into the Iraq conflict does not mean the UK is drawing a line under its
involvement with Iraq; the UK remains committed to a wide and productive bilateral
relationship.
The Government continues to co-operate fully with the Inquiry.
Associated articles: The Guardian – Former MI5 chief delivers damning verdict on Iraq invasion

Other News Stories from this Week

The following are interesting news items that we think people may want to circulate further:

The News International – Pakistan, UK working for stability in region

Chairman of the British Conservative Party Baroness Warsi this week visited Pakistan,
where she attended a dinner hosted by Pakistani Prime Minister Yousef Raza
Gilani.
Please email ricu@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
with comments or if you would like to subscribe