This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6718235.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
More UK imams needed, says Blair More UK imams needed, says Blair
(about 1 hour later)
Tony Blair says he wants more Muslim imams trained in UK universities, to reduce reliance on imams from overseas.Tony Blair says he wants more Muslim imams trained in UK universities, to reduce reliance on imams from overseas.
There are concerns that imams from another country may not understand British society or speak good English.There are concerns that imams from another country may not understand British society or speak good English.
The prime minister told Muslim leaders at a London conference that Islamic studies courses at university would receive an extra £1m funding. He also pledged a £1m boost for Islamic studies at university after a report criticised the quality of teaching.
It came as a report said teaching of Islam in English universities was based on "out-of-date and irrelevant issues". He told a London conference politicians must listen to moderate voices. Critics said the conference excluded those who had opposed government policies.
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. In a speech at the conference, hosted by Cambridge University, Mr Blair said his ambition was that more imams and religious leaders could be trained in the UK.
'Calm voice' 'Small voice'
It concludes that more emphasis should be placed on Islam in a modern context. He also said British politicians must listen harder to the "calm voice of moderation and reason" of the majority of the country's Muslims.
Mr Blair's announcement came in a speech at the conference, hosted by Cambridge University but held in London. "Those willing to come on television and articulate extreme and violent views make so much more impact than those who use the still, small voice of reason and moderation," he said.
He said British politicians must listen harder to the "calm voice of moderation and reason" of the majority of the country's Muslims. The voices of extremism are no more representative of Islam than the use in times gone by of torture to force conversion to Christianity represented the teachings of Christ Tony Blair class="" href="/1/hi/education/6713373.stm">Islam courses 'outdated'
We want a debate within higher education about how Islamic studies are developed Bill RammellHigher education minister He said the conference had been organised to "let the authentic voices of Islam, in their various schools and manifestations, speak for themselves".
He also said it was wrong to equate Islam and Muslim communities with extremism and stressed the importance of hearing the authentic voices of Islam and the country's Muslim communities. "Some of the most distinguished scholars and religious leaders the world over are gathered here. And I ask people in the country and wider to listen to them. They are the authentic voices of Islam," he said.
And he also called for closer links between Islamic schools - madrassas - and mainstream British education. "The voices of extremism are no more representative of Islam than the use in times gone by of torture to force conversion to Christianity represented the teachings of Christ."
Higher education minister Bill Rammell said that ministers will now label Islamic studies a "strategic subject" because of its role "in preventing extremism". Challenge extremism
Funding boost He also called for closer links between Islamic schools - madrassas - and mainstream British education.
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." And he announced £1m for British universities which teach Islamic studies courses - which he said ought to be re-designed to challenge extremism.
A funding boost of £1m is expected to be announced to plug gaps highlighted by Dr Siddiqui's report. These are the issues which are radicalising young people and he did not talk about that Ahmed VersiEditor, Muslim News
The review was commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills to assess the way in which Islam is taught and to improve support for Muslim students. It came as a report said teaching of Islam in English universities was based on "out-of-date and irrelevant issues
'Complete ignorance' Among those attending the two-day conference are clerics including the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shaykh Ali Gomaa, and the Grand Mufti of Bosnia, Mustafa Ceric.
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". But Mr Blair was criticised by some Muslims, who said he had not invited those groups which opposed government policy.
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". 'Welcoming' language
The report concludes that Islamic studies syllabuses should focus on aspects of Islam "relevant to contemporary practice of faith". Muslim News editor Ahmed Versi was among those at the conference, he told BBC News that overall, the language used by Mr Blair was "quite welcoming".
Students should be able to learn parts of the syllabus from Islamic scholars, it adds. But he said he did not address the most important issue to Muslims - what he called the "double standards" of foreign policy in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
It also calls for more recognition of the importance of campus Islamic societies and more prayer facilities. "These are the issues which are radicalising young people and he did not talk about that," he said.
Last week the University and Colleges Union unanimously voted to oppose plans urging lecturers to fight against extremism on campuses. And Labour peer Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, a critic of the government's foreign policy, told the BBC the conference was "fronted" by Cambridge University, but had been organised by the government which had "deliberately chosen to exclude those Muslims who disagree with government policy."
The government had asked lecturers to monitor the activity of Muslim students and to report any suspicious behaviour. He accused Mr Blair of using "divide and rule" tactics and said the university was being used "to see off a last speech" before Mr Blair steps down on 27 June.
But Catriona Laing, of Cambridge University's Interfaith Programme, denied there had been any political interference and said the conference had been planned for a long time.