Open dialogue aims to ensure that families have the tools to address potentially concerning behaviors and attitudes that could draw vulnerable individuals into extremism. The document discusses the importance of timing discussions well when they are not heated, making them feel natural and relevant to all parties by asking open-ended questions, and maintaining the discussion with active listening and offering alternatives gently.

1. FIYAZ MUGHAL
C O U N T E R I N G
E X T R E M I S M
T H R O U G H
D I A L O G U E

2. COUNTERING
EXTREMISM THROUGH
DIALOGUE
With extremism being considered a global concern, it’s
important that societies and families do all they can to
counter it. At the heart of these efforts is being able to keep
vulnerable individuals from being drawn into extremism, and
one way to do this is to engage in dialogue at early stages.
Open dialogue aims to ensure that families have the tools to
address potentially-concerning behaviours and attitudes.
OPEN DIALOGUE
AIMS TO
ENSURE THAT
FAMILIES HAVE
THE TOOLS
TO ADDRESS
POTENTIALLY-
CONCERNING
BEHAVIOURS
AND ATTITUDES.

3. TIMING
The timing of any discussion regarding
extremism (or related topics) is impor-
tant and such a conversation shouldn’t
be started during a heated moment.
You need to be clear about the issue
of discussion in your mind before you
begin the conversation. It’s important
to make the discussion feel natural, and
one way to do this is to find a moment
when both parties are relaxed.
RELEVANCE
It’s important that the discussion beco-
mes relevant to everyone involved. Ra-
ther than asking direct questions, using
leading questions can help everyone
ease into the discussion. You can also
ask for people to share their opinions
so it doesn’t feel too one-sided. It might
take a few attempts to get the conversa-
tion going.
MAINTAINING
DISCUSSION
Ensure that the other person feels like
you care about them. Listen to their
points of view and ask open questions.
If you’re going to offer alternatives, do
so gently while modelling the patient
and caring attitude you want them to
adopt.
“
YOU NEED TO BE
CLEAR ABOUT
THE ISSUE OF
DISCUSSION IN
YOUR MIND BEFORE
YOU BEGIN THE
CONVERSATION.
“

4. FIYAZ MUGHAL
To learn more about this topic,
visit Fiyaz Mughal’s blog.