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Kelly urges response to extremism Kelly urges response to extremism
(40 minutes later)
The battle against extremism in the UK should be fought by all communities - not just Muslims - Ruth Kelly will tell a meeting of local authority officials. The battle against extremism in the UK should be fought by all communities - not just Muslims - Ruth Kelly has told a meeting of local authority officials.
The communities secretary will say that extremism includes the threat from the "still poisonous" far-right. The communities secretary said that extremism included the threat from the "still poisonous" far-right.
"The new extremism we're facing is the single biggest security issue for local communities," Ms Kelly will say. "The new extremism we're facing is the single biggest security issue for local communities," Ms Kelly said.
She will also urge a review of measures aimed to stop extremists influencing students in universities and colleges. However, the Muslim Council of Britain says recent pronouncements by ministers have "demonised" the Muslim community.
The meeting comes as the government continues to draw criticism from Islamic groups over the issue of whether Muslim women who insist on wearing veils are hindering integration. Ms Kelly's meeting came as the government continues to face criticism from Islamic groups over the issue of whether Muslim women who insist on wearing veils are hindering integration.
Commons leader Jack Straw sparked controversy almost two weeks ago when he admitted to asking Muslim women if they would remove veils which fully cover their faces when visiting his Blackburn constituency offices.
'Key' councils'Key' councils
Last week, Ms Kelly said her department would give financial support to Muslim groups that proved they were trying to root out extremism within their ranks. Over the weekend the continuing row focused on a Muslim teaching assistant who was suspended for refusing to remove her veil in class.
href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/5411320.stm" class="">Why women wear the veil href="Http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_6050000/newsid_6053200/6053202.stm" class="">Children speak out on veils On Monday, she will broaden the debate by telling representatives from 20 "key" councils and senior police officers at the meeting in London: "This is not just a problem for Muslim communities. Government minister Phil Woolas angered Muslim groups and fellow politicians by calling for 23-year-old Aishah Azmi to be sacked.
And last week Ms Kelly said her department would give financial support to Muslim groups that proved they were trying to root out extremism within their ranks.
Why women wear the veil Children speak out on veils
At Monday's meeting she urged a review of measures aimed at stopping extremists influencing students in universities and colleges.
She also broadened the debate by telling representatives from 20 "key" councils and senior police officers at the meeting in London: "This is not just a problem for Muslim communities.
"The far right is still with us, still poisonous, still trying to create and exploit divisions."The far right is still with us, still poisonous, still trying to create and exploit divisions.
"Extremism is an issue for all of us. We all must play our part in responding to it.""Extremism is an issue for all of us. We all must play our part in responding to it."
She will urge the councils to respond to the ways the world has changed since the 11 September attacks on the US and the 7 July bombings in London. She urged the councils to respond to the ways the world has changed since the 11 September attacks on the US and the 7 July bombings in London.
"The government has had to change and respond to that, and we appeal to local authorities to do the same.""The government has had to change and respond to that, and we appeal to local authorities to do the same."
Extremist snooping?Extremist snooping?
Meanwhile, the Guardian newspaper claims the government is to ask university lecturers to report Muslim students who they suspect of involvement in Islamic extremism to the police.Meanwhile, the Guardian newspaper claims the government is to ask university lecturers to report Muslim students who they suspect of involvement in Islamic extremism to the police.
It says the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is drawing up a series of plans to ask universities and colleges to inform on students to special branch.It says the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is drawing up a series of plans to ask universities and colleges to inform on students to special branch.
But a DfES spokesman said although guidelines on "good leadership" to deal with radicalism in higher education institutions were being drawn up, the details of what they would include had not yet been finalised.But a DfES spokesman said although guidelines on "good leadership" to deal with radicalism in higher education institutions were being drawn up, the details of what they would include had not yet been finalised.
"It is pure speculation to say what is going to be included," he said."It is pure speculation to say what is going to be included," he said.
Commons leader Jack Straw sparked controversy almost two weeks ago when he admitted to asking Muslim women to remove veils which cover the face when visiting his Blackburn constituency offices.
Veil outrage
Over the weekend the continuing row focused on a Muslim teaching assistant who was suspended for refusing to remove her veil in class.
Government minister Phil Woolas angered Muslim groups and fellow politicians by calling for 23-year-old Aishah Azmi to be sacked.
Find out about different styles of Muslim headscarfIn graphicsFind out about different styles of Muslim headscarfIn graphics
It has emerged that the head of the Muslim Council of Britain, Muhammad Abdul Bari, has written to Ms Kelly, claiming that a recent "drip feed" of ministerial statements over the issue has "stigmatised" the entire Muslim community.It has emerged that the head of the Muslim Council of Britain, Muhammad Abdul Bari, has written to Ms Kelly, claiming that a recent "drip feed" of ministerial statements over the issue has "stigmatised" the entire Muslim community.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What is happening, especially in the last few months, has been a barrage of demonisation of the Muslim community to such an extent that the community is now scared and the whole community feels vulnerable.He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What is happening, especially in the last few months, has been a barrage of demonisation of the Muslim community to such an extent that the community is now scared and the whole community feels vulnerable.
"Ministers are not helping in this discourse within the Muslim community."Ministers are not helping in this discourse within the Muslim community.
"What, simply, they are doing is trying to undermine and marginalise further Muslim community, especially those organisations which have been working so hard for community cohesion.""What, simply, they are doing is trying to undermine and marginalise further Muslim community, especially those organisations which have been working so hard for community cohesion."
Ex-minister John Denham told Today he feared a series of pronouncements from members of the government had looked "like a barrage of general criticism" against the Muslim community.Ex-minister John Denham told Today he feared a series of pronouncements from members of the government had looked "like a barrage of general criticism" against the Muslim community.
He urged a "genuine debate" that did not polarise the different sides involved because he feared otherwise Muslims as a whole could be perceived as posing "some sort of unspecified threat".He urged a "genuine debate" that did not polarise the different sides involved because he feared otherwise Muslims as a whole could be perceived as posing "some sort of unspecified threat".
Labour Lord Ahmed, the first Muslim peer, told Today: "Unfortunately, it's so easy for everyone to jump on the bandwagon and attack the Muslim community which has become fashionable and probably a vote winner."Labour Lord Ahmed, the first Muslim peer, told Today: "Unfortunately, it's so easy for everyone to jump on the bandwagon and attack the Muslim community which has become fashionable and probably a vote winner."