ISD’s Rashad Ali joins The Guardian’s Politics Weekly UK podcast to discuss the Southport Stabbing

Rashad Ali, a Resident Senior Fellow at ISD, joined the Guardian’s Politics Weekly UK podcast to discuss the Southport Stabbing and steps that can be taken to confront radicalisation among children. Reflecting on the shortcomings of the PREVENT Program, Rashad questioned, “where do you determine somebody is on a pathway towards undertaking terrorist acts or they are just very disgruntled and very angry?” 

Drawing from his personal experience as a radicalised teenager, Rashad unpacked the complexities of de-radicalisation, explaining, “there’s lots of reasons to be radicalised.” He added “As a kid, one state, one nation, one solution to all problems is quite attractive.”

“It’s easy to empathise when people feel there is a need for a radical change in the world today,” said Rashad. “What we should separate that from is the totalitarian, authoritarian solution and the actions of extreme ideology to bring them about.” 

You can listen to the full podcast on the Guardian’s website.