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New funding for training UK imams Teaching of Islam is 'out-dated'
(10 minutes later)
Tony Blair is to announce more government funding for training Muslim imams in UK universities to reduce reliance on imams from overseas. The teaching of Islam in English universities is based on "out-of-date and irrelevant issues", a major report on the subject has concluded.
There are concerns that imams from another country may not understand British society or speak good English.
The prime minister is meeting Muslim leaders at a major conference on Islam in London.
Meanwhile, a report says teaching of Islam in English universities is based on "out-of-date and irrelevant issues".
Academic Ataullah Siddiqui's review paints a picture of Islamic studies departments where the post-9/11 and 7 July world has largely passed them by.Academic Ataullah Siddiqui's review paints a picture of Islamic studies departments where the post-9/11 and 7 July world has largely passed them by.
It concludes that more emphasis should be placed on Islam in a modern context.It concludes that more emphasis should be placed on Islam in a modern context.
Closer links Ministers will now label Islamic studies a "strategic subject" because of its role "in preventing extremism".
At the conference of international Islamic leaders, hosted by Cambridge University but held in London, Mr Blair will say British politicians must listen harder to the "calm voice of moderation and reason" of the majority of the country's Muslims. 'Major focus shift'
He will also say it is wrong to equate Islam and Muslim communities with extremism and stress the importance of hearing the authentic voices of Islam and the country's Muslim communities. Prime minister Tony Blair is expected to announce a £1m cash injection later to plug gaps highlighted by Dr Siddiqui's report.
And he will call for closer links between Islamic schools - madrassas - and mainstream British education. The cash will be used to fund the training of Muslim imams in UK
But one muslim Labour peer, Lord Ahmed, accused Mr Blair of "hijacking " the conference. Mr Blair will be meeting Muslim leaders from around the world at a major conference on Islam hosted by Cambridge University but held in London.
"This conference is fronted by Cambridge University but organised by Downing Street, Foreign Office and the communities department, who've deliberately chosen to exclude those Muslims who disagree with government policy," he said on the BBC's Today programme. He will also be emphasise the major role played by Muslims in British society.
"This is divide and rule, it's a colonial style of governance."
Catrina Laing, project manager for Cambridge University's inter-faith programme, which is organising the conference, denied the government had a veto on those taking part.
"Cambridge University have been planning this conference for some time now, and we sent out the invitations in consultation with all the partners that we're organising this conference with," she said.
"We've got a range of academics, policy makers, thinkers, religious leaders from all over the world coming."
'Improving cohesion'
Higher education minister Bill Rammell said that ministers will now label Islamic studies a "strategic subject" because of its role "in preventing extremism".
He said: "Whilst we can't control the content of courses, we want a debate within higher education about how Islamic studies are developed, how they do ensure that we're not just looking at Islamic studies from a Middle Eastern perspective, but we actually look at the important role of Muslims where they are a minority faith within a multi-cultural society."
A cash injection of £1m is expected to be announced to plug gaps highlighted by Dr Siddiqui's report.
The investment, together with the new status of strategic subject, were in recognition of the contribution of Islamic studies "in improving community cohesion and its contribution to preventing extremism", a Department for Education and Skills (DfES) spokeswoman said.The investment, together with the new status of strategic subject, were in recognition of the contribution of Islamic studies "in improving community cohesion and its contribution to preventing extremism", a Department for Education and Skills (DfES) spokeswoman said.
The review was commissioned by the DfES to assess the way in which Islam is taught and to improve support and advice available to Muslim students.The review was commissioned by the DfES to assess the way in which Islam is taught and to improve support and advice available to Muslim students.
'Complete ignorance'
In his report, Dr Siddiqui says discussion about the teaching of Islam in higher education has been conducted "in complete ignorance of the Muslim community and their patterns of belief and practice".In his report, Dr Siddiqui says discussion about the teaching of Islam in higher education has been conducted "in complete ignorance of the Muslim community and their patterns of belief and practice".
Teaching requirements
He also says that "a major shift of focus" from "an Arab and Middle Eastern perspective to that of a plural society in Britain is needed".He also says that "a major shift of focus" from "an Arab and Middle Eastern perspective to that of a plural society in Britain is needed".
The report concludes that Islamic studies syllabuses should focus on aspects of Islam "relevant to contemporary practice of faith".The report concludes that Islamic studies syllabuses should focus on aspects of Islam "relevant to contemporary practice of faith".
Students should be able to learn parts of the syllabus from Islamic scholars, it adds.Students should be able to learn parts of the syllabus from Islamic scholars, it adds.
It also calls for more recognition of the importance of campus Islamic societies and more prayer facilities.It also calls for more recognition of the importance of campus Islamic societies and more prayer facilities.
The publication of the report comes after a unanimous vote by the University and College Union last week opposing plans urging lecturers to fight against extremism on campuses. The publication of the report comes after a unanimous vote by the University and College Union last week urged lecturers not to meet government demands to inform on pupils suspected of extremism.
The government had asked lecturers to monitor the activity of Muslim students and to report any suspicious behaviour.The government had asked lecturers to monitor the activity of Muslim students and to report any suspicious behaviour.