Over the last week individuals who were scheduled to take part in the Bradford Literature Festival have announced their withdrawal from the event after it came to light that the festival’s funding comes directly from the Home Office’s Counter-Extremism program ‘Building a Stronger Britain Together (BSBT)’ fund, which comes under the 2015 Counter Extremism Strategy. Whilst it cannot be labeled as a PREVENT initiative it is heavily linked to the government’s approaches to counter terrorism. All participants who have withdrawn support and participation have issued statements which can be read below, they go into specific reasons to why the fund is problematic. Often PREVENT and PREVENT related strategy have been criticised for being inherently being Islamophobic in both nature and approach. It has also been criticised due to the focus and scrutiny placed on young children.

Bradford Literature Festival issued a statement which included the benefits they have seen of the funding and expressing the door is open to work with all the individuals in the future.

“The funding has allowed us to do important work with women’s community groups. This has been hugely valued by the groups themselves, and has received appreciative feedback from participants and community leaders.

As a South Asian, Muslim-led organisation, BLF is entirely conscious of the opinion some parts of the Muslim community hold about the BSBT programme – and whilst we acknowledge and value the perspective and opinion, it isn’t one, on this matter, that we share. We regret that the support offered by BSBT to these specific projects has led to a number of speakers withdrawing from the festival programme.

BLF offers a platform for a broad spectrum of opinions, and encourages healthy debate on issues of our time. Our door is always open to working with these speakers in the future and we wish them well.

There has been widespread support and understanding of the decision and sends a message out to us all that values and principles should always come first. We’ve also been able to take key lessons away.”

1. Research: When partnering or working with an organisation do your due diligence
2. Check out the list to find out the other organisations that have received funding from the BSBT programme
3. Raise it with the organiser and request clarification
4. Research PREVENT and Counter-Terrorism Strategy
5. And remember principles over pocket!

I'm very inspired by @thebrownhijabi @MaliaBouattia and @SaharAlFaifi withdrawal of the Bradford Literature Festival for the organizer's acceptance of Counter Extremism funding (and thus framing). I've had some discussions with others on this, and I'll some thoughts below /1

— Tarek Younis (@Tarek_Younis_) June 20, 2019

and solidarity always with the muslim and black and brown communities whose lives are affected and put at risk by these counter extremism strategies

— Paula Akpan (@paulaakpan) June 21, 2019

The withdrawal of participants from the Bradford Literature Festival is growing. Hussein Kezvani has followed Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan's stance.

I hope that the BLF listens and resolves to keep the projects it runs free of Home Office… https://t.co/wxkvX0MjoZ

— Shahzad G Hussain (@TC1973) June 20, 2019

Participants who have pulled out so far: 

Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan

Sahar Al Faifi

Malia Bouattia

Lola Olufemi

Hussein Kesvani

Lauren Booth

Charlie Brinkhurst

Dilly Hussain

Paula Akpan

Each have offered statements in relation to their withdrawal.

My statement of withdrawal from @BradfordLitFest … I really hope that BLF reconsider their decision of receiving these funds … pic.twitter.com/JZdifynHU0

— Sahar Al-Faifi (@SaharAlFaifi) June 19, 2019

When it comes to a an unquestionably violent form of state-led racism, an attack on civil liberties & our right to dissent, there is not middle ground. #dontbecomplicit #boycottprevent #BLF https://t.co/eulaSrKQiW

— Malia Bouattia (@MaliaBouattia) June 20, 2019

*Announcement*
Withdrawal from @bradfordlitfest

After careful consideration, I have made the decison to withdraw from the Bradford Literature Festival 2018 where I was scheduled to appear.

I join Suhaiymah… https://t.co/5lIeyAJDng

— Lauren Booth (@LaurenBoothUK) June 21, 2019

After careful consideration, I am pulling out of the Bradford Literature Festival, where I was set to interview Chelsea Kwakye and Ọrẹ Ogunbiyi, the authors of Taking Up Space. (cc @thebrownhijabi, @UK_CAGE) pic.twitter.com/H2ml6WePWe

— Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff (@CharlieBCuff) June 21, 2019

I’ll be withdrawing from the @BradfordLitFest alongside @thebrownhijabi and Waithera for all the reasons Suhaiymah has detailed below. CONTEST is terrifying legislation, there is no way that the festival can rectify that or platform radical voices as a recipient of its fund. https://t.co/th798BNdCB

— lola olufemi (@lolaolufemi_) June 19, 2019

Sad to say that I will be pulling out of the Bradford Literature Festival next weekend, following revelations of receiving funds from the Home Office's Counter-Extremism program. I have outlined my decision further, below: pic.twitter.com/CnRcfxG1AC

— hussein kesvani (@HKesvani) June 20, 2019

I was invited to speak at the Bradford Literature Festival to discuss the impact of Dirilis Ertugrul on Muslim youth.

Initially I had accepted but later declined after I found out that they received money from the @HomeOffice’s ‘Building a Stronger Britain Together’ CVE fund. pic.twitter.com/uM4DK8TbWV

— Dilly Hussain (@DillyHussain88) June 19, 2019

and solidarity always with the muslim and black and brown communities whose lives are affected and put at risk by these counter extremism strategies

— Paula Akpan (@paulaakpan) June 21, 2019