FORMER EXTREMIST: Ivan
Ivan is a former member of the English Defence League (EDL), a far-right group and currently the Beyond Barriers Outreach Coordinator for the UK
Ivan talks about the origins of his Islamophobic beliefs drawn from sensationalist media and how this drew him into the English Defence League. For five years, he was entirely devoted to supporting the organisation, enjoying the sense of belonging that came from being part of a tightknit organisation. This itself placed him within bubble which reinforced his prejudices. He describes a mental health crisis that left him depressed, isolated and vulnerable to extremism. Joining the EDL brought him a sense of community and purpose, and he was further alienated by police violence against EDL supporters. His first meeting with a Muslim broke down these stereotypes and began a shift in his opinions. Ivan describes how he parted ways with the EDL and began to see the commonalities between communities.