UK denies spying on Muslims

The British government Tuesday denied that one of its main counter-terrorism strategies is being used as a cover to carry out surveillance on the country's two million Muslim community, insisting there was clear guideline on sharing intelligence.

Claims that the 'Prevent' extremism program, which funds community groups, is used to spy on innocent Muslims is "willfully misleading," Home Secretary Alan Johnson said.

"Prevent is categorically not about spying, and assertions to the contrary damage the good partnership work undertaken at community level," Johnson emphasized.

The Guardian reported on Friday that the £140 million ($225 m) program, which targets so-called Muslim extremists, was being used by authorities to gather intelligence on innocent people. The Institute of Race Relations also found that Prevent had been used "to establish one of the most elaborate systems of surveillance ever seen in Britain," involving teachers, community workers and other fellow professionals.

But Johnson insisted that the strategy, which was launched last year, was "about addressing the root causes of radicalization and about protecting vulnerable individuals."

"Prevent can only be successful in addressing the longer term threat by working together with communities to develop and sustain trust and mutual respect," he said. The Home Secretary insisted that the program has detailed and clear guidance on surveillance and intelligence-sharing that was "publicly available."

"We will investigate fully where there is any suggestion that practitioners have not followed this guidance correctly," he said.

"Where necessary, we will issue a reminder to all local partners that there is a clear legal framework within which they must operate and that any information shared has to be necessary, proportionate and lawful," he added.

In a letter responding to the Guardian, Johnson warned that its report could "potentially do much to damage" the success of the program in working with communities to address the threat of terrorism.