UK to engage Muslims to tackle extremism

The purpose is to work jointly with the Muslim leaders to address the issue of extremism that exists within the Muslim communities.

The July 7 and the subsequent failed London bomb attacks on Underground trains and buses were all acts of home grown suicide bombers and terrorists. It is believed that various extremist Islamist groups are operating in the United Kingdom and are recruiting young men and women with 'hate preaching' against other religious communities.

And from this realisation, UK authorities have already had a number of meetings with Muslim leaders and more are planned.

Hazel Blears, a Home Office minister has visited Muslim communities to build trust and a close relationship with the community. Hazel Blears said community relations in the UK are extremely good, and the relations are as good as they were before the July bombings in London. The communities are united in their resolve and efforts not to let those events affect the overall race or community relations in the UK.

Vast majority of Muslims have not only condemned the bombing but also wanted to work with the authorities in fighting the extremism.

The minister's visits to the Muslim communities are part of the confidence building measures the government are taking to boost the relationship and the emphasis is on measures 'what unites Britain as a country'.

The purpose of meeting members of the Muslim communities is not just to talk about fighting terrorism, but also to look at the whole range of related issues like housing, education, job opportunities and opportunities for young people etc. All these issues were equally highlighted in discussions with the Muslim community as social conditions might also contribute to make a disadvantaged youth to be a member of extremist groups.

Hazel Blears also said after meetings with members of the Muslim community that they want us to help them root out extremists, who are often not in the mosque but hang around outside mosques. Everybody wants us to tackle terrorism, but it is equally important that the police men reassure the community that any type of racial or religious hate crime would not be tolerated. The Police are fully aware of this, and are planning to work closely with the community on these issues.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair wants to establish a Commission on Integration, which will be led by Hazel Blears. It would look at how members of Muslim community can better integrate into mainstream British society.

On another front of the fight against terrorism, the government is taking no chances with hard line clerics and listed ten of extremist clerics as being not conducive to the public good for national security reasons and detained them. A number of others could also be arrested and deported to their country of origin.