An extraordinary event held at Glasgow City Chambers by the charity Roshni has caused barely a public ripple, but should have done.

The gathering of young Scots from ethnic minorities, mainly of Asian heritage and largely muslim background was claimed by the charity as a UK first.

Main speaker, Nazir Afzal OBE, former chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in the North West of England said it should be the start of a national conversation.

Roshni, which works works to tackle sensitive issues including child abuse in Scotland's ethnic minority communities, had chosen to pair child sexual exploitation with religious and political radicalisation.

The charity asked: why are young people who are groomed for sexual exploitation viewed as victims, while young British muslims who are lured to groups such as Isis are treated as criminals?

Many of the processes of grooming: isolating people and alienating them from family through manipulation by charismatic, are similar, Mr Afzal said.

The event was a rare opportunity for young people speak up about their own concerns and challenge those in power. Roshni had managed to invite along an impressive guest list: Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland, acting Children's Minister Fiona Mcleod MSP and Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone of Police Scotland were among those put on the spot.

The young people were equally keen to question the roles of their own families, mosques and imams in challenging radicalisation. Some imams seemed keen to define it as a 'community problem' rather than one they could directly influence.

Some of the young people agreed. Much radicalisation is not now taking place in the mosques, but online, they said. Parents were also criticised for being out of touch with the realities of modern technology.

Islamophobia in politics and the media and the government's controversial Prevent counter-terrorism policy lead some young people to feel victimised, they said Some feel, "my faith is being attacked, and I must defend it", one audience member explained.

Iain Livingstone did a good job of explaining that while Police Scotland has a duty to implement the law, the force is trying to do it sensitively.

Mr Afzal called for a national helpline for those in danger from extremist ideology. He revealed he is in talks with Roshni about how one could be set up.

But what was most apparent was that while this is clearly an important national debate, it is absurd for young people not to be involved in it. There may yet be ripples from this event and they may spread a long way beyond Glasgow.