Dear IRR News subscriber,

In the week that the government announced new counter-extremism measures, the IRR publishes contributions from its seminar on ‘Securitisation, Schools and Preventing Extremism’, held at Garden Court Chambers on 7 October, amidst concerns that the new duty could undermine the Equality Act.

Leading education consultant Bill Bolloten discusses how the new statutory duty is not only misguided and counter-productive, but confuses the professional roles of police and teachers. ‘The new duty risks closing down the very opportunities where the classroom can be used to develop an inclusive curriculum that fosters democratic skills and explores human rights’, he explains.

Yasser Louati, director of the Collectif Contre l’ Islamophobie en France (CCIF), concentrates on the cases taken up by the CCIF, including those of 130 young Muslim students expelled from school for wearing a long skirt and that of a French teacher reported to the school board by his own pupils. ‘If you want to know how much freedom you’re going to have tomorrow’, he argues, ‘just look at how much freedom minorities are losing today’.

The IRR’s fortnightly calendar of racism and resistance, a resource for anti-racist and social justice campaigns, highlights key events in the UK and Europe.

And finally, on 11 November, the IRR is hosting a discussion on ‘border wars’ to launch the second edition of journalist Matthew Carr’s book: Fortress Europe: Dispatches from a Gated Continent. The event is free, but spaced are limited and booking is essential. Click here for more details, including how to book.

IRR News team