Community engagement with Muslim communities: pitfalls and opportunities in a climate of counter-terrorism

Abstract

In a climate of counter-terrorism, police engagement of Muslim communities can be a difficult enterprise. The vast majority of literature in relation to counter-terrorism community engagement recognises the importance of trust and Muslim leadership as the foundation of relations with Muslim communities. This study attempts to understand the role and implications of uncertainty on community engagement in Muslim communities. Secondly, the research seeks to better understand and characterise the cultural nuances associated with Muslim decisions to bestow trust and engage police. The research investigates the implications for Muslim leaders when trying to simultaneously engage police and appease their own community. This study adopts a qualitative approach, drawing on interviews with Muslims (N = 29) and police officers (N = 14) in South East Queensland. The analysis exposes community perceptions of an over-reaction by authorities that has moved suspicion from a handful of terrorists to the entire Muslim community, resulting in community perceptions that Muslim communities are being targeted by police. The analysis suggests that the intentionality of police is a highly significant consideration in trust negotiations between police and Muslims. The study exposes a number of cultural preferences considered critical to trust negotiations in a manner that further highlights opportunities to enhance the development of trust and avoid pitfalls that can be problematic to community engagement. Results show that community engagement with police can also negatively impact the efforts of Muslim leaders to win and retain legitimacy in their own communities. The lessons learned from the analysis seek to further enhance the existing body of literature regarding strategies and resources to improve counter-terrorism community engagement with Muslim communities.