The role that Muslims, as a suspect population, play must
be contextualized within the socio-political framework of late modernity. This framework
will be posited as a driver behind the increased isolation, exclusion and
embitterment of Muslim communities in the UK. One of the main arguments proposed
is a prompt for governments and counter-terrorism forces to: address the
drivers and ideological grounds on which radicalization and terrorism pose a
threat; tackle the socio-political grievances experienced by Muslims; and partner
with and empower Muslim communities.
The British multi-pronged counterterrorism
strategy will be explored in order to demonstrate that some soft measures
aimed at de-radicalizing vulnerable individuals, marginalizing extremists, removing
the human capital and support for terrorist organizations and improving both
the dialogue with and the integration of Muslim communities within wider society
should be among the top priorities. Such measures would be essential in order to
achieve durable results in fighting Islamic terrorism at the grassroots level. In following
such an approach, Britain will also have to face the challenges posed by both
plural Muslim identities and communities and the differing Islamic and Western
values and aim at achieving full social integration of Muslims within the wider
society.
Introduction