Asim Hafeez, a civil servant in the Home Office who is believed to have been instrumental in promoting the policy of engagement with the so-called “non violent” Islamist groups which were the subject of the Prime Minister’s speech this weekend, is believed to have resigned.
It seems a little unfair that he should carry the can for this policy debacle. As we saw from the emails from Charles Farr, that Naik’s defence team put in evidence during their unsuccessful attempt to reverse the ban on this hate preacher, Asim Hafeez was not the only civil servant promoting this policy. For all we know, he was simply doing what he was told. Instead of resigning, could he not instead have been transferred to a part of the civil service where his personal politics wouldn’t prove so problematic?
By contrast, I still think that Charles Farr’s conduct in relation to the Naik business was very poor indeed. I would be very interested to hear his explanation for what he is reported to have done.
We’ll let you know if Asim Hafeez has, indeed, resigned.
UPDATE
The Guardian reports:
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.
…
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.
