12 October 2006
The UK government wants Muslim organizations to stand up against extremism and terror. Muslim groups have reacted with scepticism to plans by the British government to promote moderate organizations who openly stand up and fight against extremism and terror. Communities minister Ruth Kelly said the relationship between the Government and Muslim organizations should be "fundamentally rebalanced'' in favour of those who supported Britain's shared values. She indicated there would be a "significant shift'' in state funding and engagement for organizations which spoke out against extremism.But Muslim leaders said it could lead to the government only working with those who 'parrot'' its policies, while trying to shift the fallout from its foreign policy on to UK Muslims. Speaking to a Muslim audience in London, Kelly said people of all faiths in Britain shared "non-negotiable values'' such as respect for the law and freedom of speech which were under attack both from Islamist extremists and the far right. She promised that the government of prime minister Tony Blair would increase its commitment to work in partnership with Muslim communities across Britain to defend these values. Kelly said it was not enough to "merely sit on the sidelines or pay lip service'' to tackling extremism. "That is why I want a fundamental rebalancing of our relationship with Muslim organizations from now on. We will support those that stand up for our shared values and not support those who don't. We will judge them by their words and their actions.''
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), which has received state grants, has not taken part in the event commemorating the murder of six million Jews by the Nazis, arguing it should be expanded to cover all genocides. Inayat Bunglawala, assistant general secretary of the MCB, said although the Government was right to speak to a range of Muslim groups, they must listen to those who disagreed with its policies. "If the Government is planning to merely seek out those organizations who will be less critical or parrot its policies, then this is not a strategy that will succeed", he said.
