Members of an 'anti-extremism group' which gained reward from the Prime Minister have been discovered to have made homophobic and anti-Semitic feedback.
Odara is a Muslim girls's group claiming to advertise integration. It has obtained greater than £150,000 of taxpayers' cash from counter-terrorism programme – Stop.
Final yr, then residence secretary Theresa Could mentioned she was 'proud' to assist the group 'working to face up towards the extremists who search to divide us'.
Members of an 'anti-extremism group' which gained reward from the Prime Minister have been discovered to have made homophobic and anti-Semitic feedback
However chief and co-founder of the organisation, Aysha Iqbal, and outreach employee, Tasmiyah Bint Naeem had posted a collection of messages on their Fb accounts which steered they'd excessive views themselves.
Miss Iqbal posted conspiracy theories claiming a collection of mass shootings, together with the US Sandy Hook bloodbath, have been dedicated by Israel. Alongside a video entitled, 'Israel did Sandy Hook, Newtown CT College Massacres says Michael Harris', she wrote: 'Reality be advised.'
Miss Bint Naeem made homophobic feedback on the social media web site, saying she wouldn't 'be within the firm of these which might be homosexual'.
She mentioned she would 'not embrace' homosexuality and added: 'Shoot me for my views… don't care if occasions have modified.'
In one other, she posted a video claiming 9/11 was an 'inside job', alongside the caption: 'Watch and suppose.'
She additionally appeared to make anti-Semitic feedback – in a single she mentioned 'might Allah destroy Zionists'. She repeatedly used the phrase 'Zionist' to explain Israelis – a time period thought of by many to be anti-Semitic in some contexts.
These views have now been taken off their Fb pages.
Odara, primarily based in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, runs workshops on private and academic growth for girls and gives a 'secure atmosphere for dialogue on points like home violence, psychological well being and extremism'.
Final yr, then residence secretary Theresa Could mentioned she was 'proud' to assist the group 'working to face up towards the extremists who search to divide us'
The group's web site states: 'We don't choose. We gained't discriminate. What we are able to promise is a heat welcome.' It isn't recognized precisely how a lot Authorities cash the group has obtained, however sources say it's in extra of £150,000.
Dame Louise Casey – who carried out a Authorities-commissioned assessment into the combination of minority teams, launched earlier this month – even used Odara for example of how Muslim girls with poor English are being supported and inspired to combine.
However two teams that had thought of working with Odara advised the Every day Mail they determined towards it final yr over considerations concerning the group's 'homophobic and anti-Semitic views'.
Miss Iqbal mentioned her Fb posts have been from January 2013, earlier than she started work difficult extremism.
She mentioned they have been meant to be 'tongue in cheek' however she realised now how 'inappropriate and offensive it appeared with out the context'. She added that Miss Bint Naeem had stopped working for Odara final month.
Miss Bint Naeem mentioned: 'I need to make it very clear I'm not homophobic or anti-Semitic. What has been picked up on are on-line profile statuses from a very long time in the past – since then I've developed personally and professionally and reject any of the views in query.'
Birmingham Labour MP Khalid Mahmood mentioned: 'Once more that is an instance of how the Residence Workplace has been duped into supporting, recommending and funding organisations that spring up from nowhere.
'It's incorrect that such teams are receiving Authorities cash with out first understanding what their function is in the neighborhood and whether or not they have any constructive monitor report.'
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