Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali has faced criticism for suggesting fewer individuals should be referred to the government's counter-extremism program, Prevent. Ali stated that the scheme "sweeps too many innocent people into the security state," a comment made as figures revealed a record number of referrals to the program. His remarks have been labeled "uninformed" by a former Prevent counter-terror officer, who warned they could hinder national security efforts.
Mothin Ali, who represents Leeds as a councillor, acknowledged that violent extremism is a significant threat. However, he argued that "dragging more and more children into a counter-terrorism programme is not the solution." He echoed concerns from British Muslims who have reportedly warned that Prevent is "heavy-handed, undermines trust and sweeps too many innocent people into the security state." Ali suggested that counter-terrorism resources could be redirected to other areas such as education, youth work, social work, and mental health support, asserting that "we can't defeat hate and radicalisation by treating vulnerable children as security threats and making entire communities fear the state."
His comments followed the release of Home Office figures showing a record 10,293 referrals were made to Prevent for 9,957 people in the year leading up to September. This represents a 39 percent increase from the previous 12 months, marking the highest annual total since records began in 2015. Of these referrals, 8 percent (860) were related to concerns about Islamist extremism, while over 20 percent (2,100) involved suspected right-wing extremism. These figures emerge more than two years after a critical official report accused Prevent of applying a "double standard" by allegedly overlooking or misinterpreting the role of Islamist ideology while prioritizing the counteraction of far-right activity.
Former Prevent officer Ghaffar Hussain countered Ali's stance, explaining that the scheme is designed to "support those who are innocent yet at risk of being susceptible to extremist influence." He emphasized that security involves proactive interventions to prevent criminality, adding that "these types of uninformed comments only hinder national security efforts."
A spokesperson for Reform UK criticized the Prevent program, stating it is "already unfit for purpose, opting to prioritise the 'far-right' over Islamic extremism which poses a real and immediate danger to our national security." The spokesperson added that Ali's own past controversial comments, including a statement that Palestinians have a right to "fight back" following the October 7 Hamas attacks and shouting "Allahu Akbar" after being elected, have not resulted in a referral to Prevent, which they suggested is "evidence of that."
Mothin Ali had previously apologized for his remarks concerning the October 7 attacks. He also described Gaza as the "world's biggest concentration camp."