Hundreds of Islamic groups boycott Prevent review over choice of chair

Exclusive: choice of William Shawcross to head anti-radicalisation scheme review criticised owing to past remarks about Islam

A coalition of more than 450 Islamic organisations, including 350 mosques and imams, representing thousands of British Muslim voices, are to boycott the government's review of the anti-radicalisation programme Prevent in protest against the appointment of William Shawcross as its chair, the Guardian can reveal.

The appointment of Shawcross, who chaired the Charity Commission between 2012 and 2018, has been criticised as a result of previous remarks he has made about Islam.