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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cash help to root out extremism | Cash help to root out extremism |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Muslim groups which prove they are trying to outlaw extremism within their ranks are to receive financial support, Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly says. | Muslim groups which prove they are trying to outlaw extremism within their ranks are to receive financial support, Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly says. |
| Cash will be available for projects that involve women, that build bridges between communities and are in touch with young people, she said. | Cash will be available for projects that involve women, that build bridges between communities and are in touch with young people, she said. |
| She said it was "not good enough" to pay lip service to tackling extremism. | She said it was "not good enough" to pay lip service to tackling extremism. |
| "The scale of the threat means doing any less would be a dereliction of our duty," she said in a speech to Muslims. | "The scale of the threat means doing any less would be a dereliction of our duty," she said in a speech to Muslims. |
| 'Tackling discrimination' | 'Tackling discrimination' |
| Ms Kelly spoke out in the wake of Commons leader Jack Straw's call for Muslim women to consider the impact on community relations of wearing full face veils. | |
| We will increase our commitment to work in partnership with you and communities who show, through their words and actions, that they are determined to take on extremists Ruth Kelly | We will increase our commitment to work in partnership with you and communities who show, through their words and actions, that they are determined to take on extremists Ruth Kelly |
| Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have backed Mr Straw's right to spark the debate, which was criticised by some Muslim groups. | |
| Ms Kelly said ultimately the issue was one of "informed personal choice" and no-one was suggesting in a free and democratic country that the state should decide what someone can or cannot wear. | Ms Kelly said ultimately the issue was one of "informed personal choice" and no-one was suggesting in a free and democratic country that the state should decide what someone can or cannot wear. |
| She said many Muslims had privately told her that "Britain is a great place to be a Muslim". | She said many Muslims had privately told her that "Britain is a great place to be a Muslim". |
| But, she argued, a great deal more needed to be done to "tackle discrimination, whether conscious or unconscious". | But, she argued, a great deal more needed to be done to "tackle discrimination, whether conscious or unconscious". |
| Defending values | Defending values |
| In a direct appeal to Muslims, she stressed that tackling the problem of extremism was not theirs alone. | |
| "This is a shared problem ... But I do say that without you fully on side we will fail. Your voice is more powerful than mine and your actions can be more effective. | |
| "Unless moderates can establish themselves at the centre of their communities and faith, extremists could grow in strength and influence. | |
| "So I promise we will increase our commitment to work in partnership with you and communities throughout Britain who show, through their words and actions, that they are determined to take on extremists and to defend values that the vast majority of us share. | "So I promise we will increase our commitment to work in partnership with you and communities throughout Britain who show, through their words and actions, that they are determined to take on extremists and to defend values that the vast majority of us share. |
| "It is not good enough to merely sit on the side lines or pay lip service to fighting extremism. | "It is not good enough to merely sit on the side lines or pay lip service to fighting extremism. |
| "In the future, I'm clear that our strategy of funding and engagement must shift significantly towards those organisations that are taking a proactive leadership role in tackling extremists and defending our values...." | "In the future, I'm clear that our strategy of funding and engagement must shift significantly towards those organisations that are taking a proactive leadership role in tackling extremists and defending our values...." |
| "I know this message will be challenging for some. I make no apologies for that. The scale of the threat means doing any less would be a dereliction of our duty." | "I know this message will be challenging for some. I make no apologies for that. The scale of the threat means doing any less would be a dereliction of our duty." |
| Multi-cultural questions | |
| Ms Kelly was also critical of groups who chose to boycott commemorations, such as Holocaust Memorial Day, although she insisted it was their right to do so. | |
| The Muslim Council of Britain, which has received government grants, has not been involved in the event commemorating the murder of six million Jews by the Nazis, saying it should be expanded to cover all genocides. | |
| There have been continuing discussions about multi-culturalism in Britain, following the 7 July attacks on London by British-born suicide bombers. | There have been continuing discussions about multi-culturalism in Britain, following the 7 July attacks on London by British-born suicide bombers. |
| Ms Kelly is among ministers who have questioned whether multi-culturalism is producing a nation of separate societies. | Ms Kelly is among ministers who have questioned whether multi-culturalism is producing a nation of separate societies. |
| In a speech to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, established after 7 July, she said: "In our attempt to avoid imposing a single British identity and culture, have we ended up with some communities living in isolation of each other, with no common bonds between them?" | In a speech to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, established after 7 July, she said: "In our attempt to avoid imposing a single British identity and culture, have we ended up with some communities living in isolation of each other, with no common bonds between them?" |