Building Bridges
of Understanding
and Resilience
Empowering Communities to Counter
Extremism through Theological Education
Strategies in Counter
Extremism Theology (SCET)
The appropriation of Islamic traditions by extremists has caught many communities unprepared due to the obscurity and apparent sophistication of the arguments used. This combines a type of neo-conservative traditionalism with revolutionary political ideology couched in the language of theology. Issues such as modern global politics, interdenominational theology, and legal theory of state and war are far removed from the everyday concerns of the average Muslim community.
At the forefront of this challenge are the Imams. Muslim scholars in the community play a pivotal role: they interact with their congregations five times a day, run after-school madrasahs for children, deliver Friday sermons to the masses, teach classes and provide religious instruction. However, due to its classical focus, the traditional Imam training does not typically provide a systematic treatment of contemporary Islamist extremist ideology
Who Are We?
Qualified Muslim theologians from recognised
and renowned seminaries
Holders of Ijazah (Traditional Licences) from prominent contemporary scholars in Classical Islamic Sciences
Imams with appeal to a wide spectrum of the Muslim
community due to multi-denominational backgrounds
Civil servants and Home Office Intervention Providers
with national security clearances
Practitioners with experience of working with different Government departments, including Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Home Office (HO), Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), and Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG)
Experts in countering Islamist extremist ideologies in bothprisons and the community, including one-to-one work with offenders charged under the Terrorism Act (TACT)
Specialists with an established track record in the design and delivery of theological training packages on countering Islamist Extremist Ideology
Key Features of SCET Training Packages
Distinguish between extremist narratives, traditional orthodoxy, and cultural practice
Upskill practitioners in effective methodology and engagement techniques
Counter both violent and
non-violent forms of
extremism
Focus on scriptural analysis with responses to extremism which are rooted in classical theology
Respond to the changing landscape of extremism by engaging current extremist narratives
Promote a normative, scripturally rooted understanding of Islam in harmony with universal moral values
Training the Trainers Package
Our Training the Trainers package contains courses which analyse and rebut key extremist arguments with a heavy theological basis utilising Islamic scripture and traditional disciplines in substantial detail. These courses are aimed at individuals with a good foundation in Islamic studies such as Imams, theologians, academics, and community leaders
Outcomes:
- Resilience against extremist rhetoric, empowered individuals.
- Course content driving impactful community engagement.
- Government initiatives understood, communities connected.
- Imams and leaders uniting for progress.
- Networking for shared practices, empowering change.
- Safeguarding communities through understanding and cooperation.
Stakeholders Package
Our Stakeholders package contains courses which offer an overview of Training the Trainers Package, as well as key relevant themes such as Islam Awareness, Denominational Diversity, Islamophobia, and Extremism. These are designed for front-line practitioners and partners, and are aimed at those involved in an operational capacity including Police, Probation, Prison, Youth Services, and Education.
Outcomes:
- Comprehensive overview fostering appreciation and understanding.
- Improving engagement through understanding needs.
- Addressing concerns: Islamophobia, media bias.
- Differentiating conservative practice from extremism.
- Informed resource allocation for effective response.
- Insight into extremism's incompatibility, promoting unity.