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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| He also pledged a £1m boost for Islamic studies at university after a report criticised the quality of teaching. | He also pledged a £1m boost for Islamic studies at university after a report criticised the quality of teaching. |
| He told a London conference politicians must listen to moderate voices. Critics said the conference excluded those who had opposed government policies. | He told a London conference politicians must listen to moderate voices. Critics said the conference excluded those who had opposed government policies. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Small voice' | 'Small voice' |
| He also said British politicians must listen harder to the "calm voice of moderation and reason" of the majority of the country's Muslims. | He also said British politicians must listen harder to the "calm voice of moderation and reason" of the majority of the country's Muslims. |
| "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. | "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. |
| 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gone by of torture to force conversion to Christianity represented the teachings of Christ Tony Blair Islam courses 'outdated' | The voices of extremism are no more representative of Islam than the use in times gone by of torture to force conversion to Christianity represented the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 Islam courses 'outdated' |
| He said the conference had been organised to "let the authentic voices of Islam, in their various schools and manifestations, speak for themselves". | He said the conference had been organised to "let the authentic voices of Islam, in their various schools and manifestations, speak for themselves". |
| "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. | "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. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Challenge extremism | Challenge extremism |
| He also called for closer links between Islamic schools - madrassas - and mainstream British education. | He also called for closer links between Islamic schools - madrassas - and mainstream British education. |
| And he announced £1m for British universities which teach Islamic studies courses - which he said ought to be re-designed to challenge extremism. | And he announced £1m for British universities which teach Islamic studies courses - which he said ought to be re-designed to challenge extremism. |
| These are the issues which are radicalising young people and he did not talk about that Ahmed VersiEditor, Muslim News class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6719153.stm">Full text: Blair speech | |
| It came as a report said teaching of Islam in English universities was based on "out-of-date and irrelevant issues | It came as a report said teaching of Islam in English universities was based on "out-of-date and irrelevant issues |
| 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. | 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. |
| But Mr Blair was criticised by some Muslims, who said he had not invited those groups which opposed government policy. | But Mr Blair was criticised by some Muslims, who said he had not invited those groups which opposed government policy. |
| 'Welcoming' language | 'Welcoming' language |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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. | 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. |
| "These are the issues which are radicalising young people and he did not talk about that," he said. | "These are the issues which are radicalising young people and he did not talk about that," he said. |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |