Scotland's minority ethnic young people are growing up in challenging times, against a background of wall-to-wall media coverage of some of their peers being radicalised or being portrayed as a perpetrator of child sexual exploitation.

Whether it is Rotherham and Doncaster or Syria and Iraq, the situation is just as difficult but are the questions the same? Always the criminal never the victim?

Radicalisation, grooming and exploitation are at the forefront of the media and political agenda and, rightly or wrongly, Muslims and Islam are suggested as being the main offenders. However, minority ethnic young people in Scotland are beginning to challenge this stereotype, and they want a part in the debate. The national Scottish charity at the forefront of raising awareness of sensitive cultural issues, roshni, believes it is essential to bring together Scotland's minority ethnic young voices and allow them a platform to have their views heard in a safe space, creating constructive dialogue with national agencies and policy makers.

Young people should be allowed to speak freely and set out their ideas in an open and safe environment, regardless of how uncomfortable this may make people may feel. That conversation, led by the young people themselves, is the only way to identify the root causes of radicalisation and child sexual exploitation.

Sadly, though, young people are often scared to speak out, particularly if they feel they will then be subject to "investigation" by the authorities and facing potential phone tapping, surveillance and the targeting of their friends and families; all because they voiced their opinion, not their intentions.

We should be proud that Scotland is a great ambassador for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and fully subscribes to its articles. The right to be heard and the right to be listened to are fundamental rights for every child and should apply to these issues as much as any others.

That's why roshni believes that, to get to the bottom of questions regarding radicalisation and sexual exploitation, and to find effective solutions, young people and communities themselves need to speak out and identify what they perceive as the underlying issues. Also, we need to listen.

Of course, radicalisation and sexual exploitation cannot be explored in isolation. Yes, we can examine the broader themes of cause, prevention and intervention. However, we also need to consider the common threads of the two issues: grooming, vulnerability and isolation.

We also need to think seriously about whether radicalisation should be considered a child protection issue.

It is widely recognised that there are many vulnerable young people who are groomed and exploited for sexual purposes. These young people are victims and the perpetrators are criminals. When brought to justice, the perpetrators are jailed and the victims provided with as much support and assistance as required.

However, there are also vulnerable young people who are groomed and exploited for radicalisation. Due to their vulnerability they have left the country and are subsequently seen as criminals. They are not labelled victims. Instead, they are seen as a radical, jihadi or even an extremist.

Should these young people not have the same assistance?

Is jail the only option? Or should we support the young people who make mistakes in life? Are the best ambassadors for young people not young people themselves?

With evidence demonstrating that a peer-led support programme will help other young people learn, should we let young people return and truly talk about the reality?

Such questions demonstrate the obvious demand for a full and open debate in a safe space, which we will provide. We're planning to have that national conversation.

Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said we need to undertake a "relentless battle for hearts and minds". We agree, but politicians cannot undertake the battle until they understand what lies beneath.

We cannot sweep these issues under the carpet anymore. This is not just a south of the Border issue. It's an issue in Scotland, and Scotland needs to have this conversation.

Ali Khan is executive chairman of roshni