State government’s record $8 million program to tackle violent extremism includes funding for Lakemba-based organisations

THE Lakemba-based organisation United Muslim Women’s Association has been given $600,000 for an online program to steer young people away from violent extremism.

Youths at risk of turning to terrorism are being targeted with a record spend on de-radicalisation programs in communities across western Sydney.

The State Government is hoping the funding boost – a doubling of its original commitment – will help steer young people away from the lure of violent extremism before they begin to drift.

The grants total $8 million over four years and include a range of workshops, camps, mentoring projects and other programs to divert young people away from engaging with ­extremism online.

Lakemba-based organisation the United Muslim Women’s Association (UMWA) received $600,000 in funding for an online project targeting youth in Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

UMWA executive director Maha Abdo said it was vital to target a wide cross-section of the community rather than focusing on specific religious groups.

The project will address violent extremism using an evidence-based approach targeting the “language of ­violence” and the negative impacts extreme views can have on social cohesion, Ms Abdo said.

UMWA executive director Maha Abdo.

“There is a lot of dissatisfaction among young people that are not associated with a particular religion,” she said.

Through “a snapshot of the diversity of young people”, the online project aims to look at why youths resort to violent language and how that language is used.

“We want to get it, document it, then provide recommendations,” Ms Abdo said.

Another Lakemba-based organisation, the Lebanese Muslim Association, received $750,000 in funding to establish a program covering political and theological issues that will target young people from primary school up to university level.

“This program will help develop better resources for young Australian Muslims and help to empower them to overcome current challenges positively,” LMA president Samier Dandan said.

Dr Jamal Rifi, of Belmore, has been outspoken on the need to connect communities.

Radical Uthman Badar speaks at a conference organised by controvesial Muslim group Hizb ut Tahrir in Lidcombe

An Islamic State column on the move in Syria.

State Government Minister for Multiculturalism, John Ajaka, said the programs seek to safeguard the community by building greater social cohesion.

“The NSW Government has listened closely to the views of community leaders, academics and law enforcement about what works and doesn’t work on the ground when it comes to engaging young people and strengthening communities,” he said.

“The feedback was clear – violent extremism is a social problem, long before it is a law enforcement problem.”

Fourteen community groups have been awarded between $150,000 and $750,000 each.

They include the Lebanese Muslim Association, Bankstown Youth Development Service and the Islamic Cultural Centre at Auburn.

For more information, visit multicultural.nsw.gov.au.