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| Bishop warns of 'Islamic areas' | Bishop warns of 'Islamic areas' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A Church of England bishop has said Islamic extremism has turned some communities into no-go areas for people of a different faith or race. | A Church of England bishop has said Islamic extremism has turned some communities into no-go areas for people of a different faith or race. |
| The Bishop of Rochester, the Right Reverend Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, writing in the Sunday Telegraph, criticised government multicultural policies. | |
| He said those of a different faith or race may find it difficult to live or work in some areas due to "hostility". | He said those of a different faith or race may find it difficult to live or work in some areas due to "hostility". |
| The Muslim Council of Britain accused the bishop of scaremongering. | The Muslim Council of Britain accused the bishop of scaremongering. |
| 'Christian cause' | |
| Dr Nazir-Ali said there had been a worldwide resurgence of Islamic extremism, leading to young people growing up alienated from the country they live in. | Dr Nazir-Ali said there had been a worldwide resurgence of Islamic extremism, leading to young people growing up alienated from the country they live in. |
| Not only locally, but at the national level also the establishment of the Church of England is being eroded Dr Michael Nazir-AliBishop of Rochester | Not only locally, but at the national level also the establishment of the Church of England is being eroded Dr Michael Nazir-AliBishop of Rochester |
| It had also turned "already separate communities into 'no-go' areas". | |
| He said there had been attempts to "impose an 'Islamic' character on certain areas", for example, by amplifying the call to prayer from mosques. | He said there had been attempts to "impose an 'Islamic' character on certain areas", for example, by amplifying the call to prayer from mosques. |
| Apart from issues about noise levels, Dr Nazir-Ali said it also raised questions about "whether non-Muslims wish to be told the creed of a particular faith five times a day on the loudspeaker". | Apart from issues about noise levels, Dr Nazir-Ali said it also raised questions about "whether non-Muslims wish to be told the creed of a particular faith five times a day on the loudspeaker". |
| The Muslim Council of Britain said the mosque call was no different from church bells ringing. | The Muslim Council of Britain said the mosque call was no different from church bells ringing. |
| Dr Nazir-Ali warned of a multi-faith "mish mash" as the government promotes its integration policy - "an agenda which still lacks the underpinning of a moral and spiritual vision." | Dr Nazir-Ali warned of a multi-faith "mish mash" as the government promotes its integration policy - "an agenda which still lacks the underpinning of a moral and spiritual vision." |
| He said the role of chaplains in such places as hospitals, prisons and educational establishments was in jeopardy "either because of financial cuts or because the authorities want 'multi-faith' provision, without regard to the distinctively Christian character of the nation's laws, values, customs and culture". | |
| If there is no evidence he can put forward then it boils down to simple scaremongering Ibrahim MograMuslim Council of Britain | |
| "Not only locally, but at the national level also the establishment of the Church of England is being eroded," Dr Nazir-Ali said. | "Not only locally, but at the national level also the establishment of the Church of England is being eroded," Dr Nazir-Ali said. |
| He added: "If it had not been for the black majority churches and the recent arrival of people from central and eastern Europe, the Christian cause in many of our cities would have looked a lost one." | |
| 'Simple scaremongering' | |
| Ibrahim Mogra, of the Muslim Council of Britain's inter-faith relations committee, described the bishop's comments as "alarming". | |
| He said: "If there is no evidence he can put forward then it boils down to simple scaremongering. | |
| "It is very worrying if parts of our country become no-go areas for anybody, and it is not acceptable. | |
| "To suggest that a handful of people are beginning to create such areas where nobody else can go unless they are Muslim needs evidence to back such claims." | |
| Akbar Ali, a Muslim community leader in Liverpool, said Dr Nazir-Ali was not being helpful. | |
| He told BBC News: "This is something new I'm hearing. I'm sure when the Bishop of Rochester says something he has done his initial research to make such a pronouncement. | |
| "But I would have thought that giving publicity to such radical views really makes the situation worse rather than better." |