David Cameron Hits Back at Muslim Council of Britain over Mosques Letter

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Prime Minister says Muslim Council of Britain 'really has a problem' after leaders compare government to 'far fight' for writing to every mosque to help root out 'men of hate'


David Cameron has said that the Muslim Council of Britain "has a problem" after it accused ministers of behaving like the "far right".

The Telegraph disclosed that Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, has written to 1,100 imams and Islamic leaders saying they must do more to root out "men of hate" who preach extremism.

The Muslim Council of Britain responded by urging Mr Pickles to clarify his request, asking if like "members of the far right" he was suggesting that Islam is inherently apart from the rest of British society.

Speaking in Ipswich, Mr Cameron said: "It's absolutely right to write this letter, to say we all have a responsibility to fight extremism. » | Christopher Hope, Senior Political Correspondent, and Steven Swinford | Monday, January 19, 2015


Related »

Government Tells Mosques: Force Out the Preachers of Hate

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Eric Pickles writes to 1,100 imams and community leaders, urging them to tackle radicals and make young Muslims proud of Britain

The Government has taken the unprecedented step of writing to every mosque in the country to tell Muslim leaders that they must do more to root out the “men of hate” who are preaching extremism.

Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, has written to 1,100 imams and Islamic leaders urging them to publicly condemn the Al Qaeda terrorists behind the Paris massacres, the Daily Telegraph has learned.

Whitehall is unable to defeat jihadist ideology alone and Muslim leaders have “a responsibility” to prevent young men and women from becoming radicalised, Mr Pickles said in a letter sent last Friday.

The letter says that Imams must explain to young people what it means to be British. And it says that mosques who identify hate preachers within their midst can receive free legal advice to force them out. Mr Pickles’ letter comes at a time when tension between communities in Britain is running high.

The Metropolitan Police announced it had increased security around police buildings and would be increasing the number of armed officers.

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, pledged to “redouble our efforts” in the face of a terrorist threat driven by “chilling” anti-Semitism.

Lord Sacks, the former Chief Rabbi, on Sunday said that anxiety among British Jews is at a “record high” with many scared to attend synagogue or go to the shops.

And writing for Telegraph.co.uk, Mick Davis, the Chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council , today warns of an “alarming rise” in anti-Semitic attacks with Jews at risk from Islamist terrorists “just for having the audacity to exist”. » | Matthew Holehouse, Political Correspondent | Sunday, January 18, 2015

The Muslim Cleric Who Blames British Mosques for the 7/7 Bombings, Says Multiculturalism Is a Disaster and Would Throw Islamic Fanatics Out
The MailOnline is yet another newspaper – there are so many these days – which has fallen for the guff that the Islam of al-Qaeda is a warped and twisted version of the ‘religion’. Dr Taj Hargey comes along and says exactly what these soft-thinking, ill-advised journalists want to hear! They fall for the crap. It keeps these people in their comfort zone.

Truth is, though, that OBL’s version of Islam is the real thing, regardless of what Dr Taj Hargey says. Indeed it is, as I have stated before, every bit as much the real thing as Coke is to cola! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

It raises the very important question: Where did Dr Taj Hargey learn his version of Islam? Certainly not from the Koran! – ©Mark

Violence: Dr Taj Hargey deplores fanatics such as the suicide bombers who targeted London. Photo courtesy of MailOnline
MAIL Online: You can usually find at least one in any saloon bar, ready to give you the benefit of their peppery views on the parlous state of Britain today.

This particular example is a clean shaven, middle-aged man with the de rigueur attire of carefully knotted mustard tie and blue, golf club-style blazer.

Brass cuff buttons flash as he pounds an angry fist on to his knee.

'I will give £5 to anyone in Britain who wants to live under Sharia law,' he declares. 'It will help pay for their ticket to Sudan, Yemen, Pakistan, or wherever it is customary to live under Sharia law.

'Please, please go and leave us alone. This is Britain, not 10th century Arabia!'

We are indeed sitting in a bar, on a busy main road in Oxford.

But the man before me is no stereotypical Islamophobe.

For one, he is sipping a glass of water rather than something more inflammatory.

More importantly, though by no means obviously, Dr Taj Hargey is himself an Islamic cleric; perhaps the most controversial imam in Britain today.

In an age when the highest-profile Muslim preachers are bearded, anti-Western firebrands such as Abu Hamza or Omar Bakri Dr Hargey seems an anomaly.

He does not care much for male facial hair. He believes that women can be both seen and heard, even in a mosque at Friday prayers.

And don't even get him started on the sort of fanatics who blow up London buses, or the poisonous teachings that inspired them.

After three men were cleared this week on charges of assisting the July 7 bombers, there have been calls for an inquiry into blunders made by the security services.

But Dr Hargey has little doubt who, and what, is truly to blame for unleashing such terrorism on our streets.

'It is the extremist ideology present in many UK mosques which is the cement behind nihilistic plots such as this,' he says.

'They are twisting Islam.' >>> By Richard Pendlebury | Thursday, April 30, 2009