Muslim activists alarmed by the FBI’s new game-like counterterrorism program for kids
The FBI has designed an unusual game-style Web site about extremism meant to be used by teachers and students to help the agency spot and prevent radicalization of youth, say Muslim and Arab advocacy groups who were briefed by the FBI on the program and fear it will foment discrimination against Muslims.
The law enforcement agency characterized the program, which appears to be the first aimed at the nation’s schools, as one that will keep youth from falling prey to online recruiting by terrorists. But some members of the Muslim and Arab advocacy groups invited to preview the effort complained that despite being described as combatting “violent extremism,” it frames the topic heavily through the lens of Islam and will lead to profiling of Muslim youth.
The Web site, called “Don’t Be A Puppet,” was scheduled to go live Monday but was put temporarily on hold in the past few days.
After initially declining to comment altogether, the agency Sunday night issued a statement. “The FBI is developing a Web site designed to provide awareness about the dangers of violent extremist predators on the Internet, with input from students, educators and community leaders,” the statement read.
The community groups saidlast month the FBI called several people to a meeting. Also at the meeting, the FBI described its plan for “Shared Responsibility Committees,” which the Muslim and Arab participants said are proposed groups of community leaders and FBI representatives who could discuss cases of specific youths.
Participants said they were also very concerned about that concept, which they perceive as institutiionalizing an informant system, and complained to the Department of Justice. That program was put on hold last week, according to participants.
“It seems like they’re asking teachers to be extensions of law enforcement and to police thought, and students as well. That was very concerning to us all,” Hoda Hawa, director of policy and advocacy for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, called MPAC, said of the site.
Source: www.washingtonpost.com