The status of a prominent Muslim civil servant working on counter-terrorism in the Home Office is in jeopardy as the government attempts a clearout of staff working inside the civil service on community relations.Asim Hafeez is head of intervention in the office of security and counter-terrorism and involved in devising government strategy to avert the radicalisation of Muslims, but government sources said he is about to leave his post. Another individual working in the department for communities and local government was also being said to be considering their position.The continuing employment of Hafeez has been in the sights of the home secretary, Theresa May, since the government signalled a change of strategy towards Muslims at party conference last year which culminated in a speech by the prime minister in Munich last Saturday.
Cameron called for an end to tolerating "non-violent extremists" who may stop short of violence but, by often allowing literature disparaging democracy and promoting community separatism, were also "part of the problem".
Such groups had been "showered with public money", the prime minister said, but actually did not help combat terrorism. He ruled that they would no longer go on to receive public money; nor share platforms with ministers.
Government sources said his speech raised obvious questions for advisers working in the civil service who are themselves said to have these views.
In particular, Hafeez was said by government sources to have been key in promoting such groups, with the prime minister's new position placing the pair at odds.
From his appointment, Hafeez unnerved advisers across Whitehall who feel government strategy should be to only engage with moderate Muslims and not those who, like Hafeez, are said to advocate engaging with more radical Muslims.
Birmingham-born Hafeez is said to have become more devout at Swansea University. In April 2002, he joined the Welsh assembly as a race and religion advisor before becoming a member of staff for Prevent – the government's strategy for dealing with Muslim communities at risk of being radicalised.
It was understood at the time of writing that Hafeez remains employed by the home officehttp://almuslim.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=735:muslim-anti-terrorism-adviser-to-leave-top-civil-service-job-officials-say&catid=69:current-affairs
Cameron called for an end to tolerating "non-violent extremists" who may stop short of violence but, by often allowing literature disparaging democracy and promoting community separatism, were also "part of the problem".
Such groups had been "showered with public money", the prime minister said, but actually did not help combat terrorism. He ruled that they would no longer go on to receive public money; nor share platforms with ministers.
Government sources said his speech raised obvious questions for advisers working in the civil service who are themselves said to have these views.
In particular, Hafeez was said by government sources to have been key in promoting such groups, with the prime minister's new position placing the pair at odds.
From his appointment, Hafeez unnerved advisers across Whitehall who feel government strategy should be to only engage with moderate Muslims and not those who, like Hafeez, are said to advocate engaging with more radical Muslims.
Birmingham-born Hafeez is said to have become more devout at Swansea University. In April 2002, he joined the Welsh assembly as a race and religion advisor before becoming a member of staff for Prevent – the government's strategy for dealing with Muslim communities at risk of being radicalised.
It was understood at the time of writing that Hafeez remains employed by the home officehttp://almuslim.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=735:muslim-anti-terrorism-adviser-to-leave-top-civil-service-job-officials-say&catid=69:current-affairs
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