Muslim panel to focus on wearing of Islamic veils in UK

Published on Friday 18 July 2008 22:05

THE wearing of the Islamic veil is one of the issues to be examined by a panel of Muslim experts being set up by the government, it was announced yesterday.

Cambridge University has been commissioned to create an independent board of academic and theological experts.

It will include 20 leading Muslims and is expected to compile a report on Islamic beliefs in relation to life in modern Britain over the coming academic year.

Hazel Blears, the Westminster Communities Secretary, announced the move as part of a new package to crack down on extremism and radicalisation.

She said: "It is not for government to dictate on matters of faith or religious teaching. But Muslim communities themselves have told us that stronger leadership is needed on what are often controversial issues."

A series of incidents have led to concerns that the wearing of the Islamic veil is one of the major barriers in community relations between Muslim and non-Muslim Britons.

Ms Blears also announced that young Muslims will be taught citizenship in mosque schools as part of an attempt to prevent extremism. Trials of the new lessons will begin at the start of the new term in September.

Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra, an imam with the Muslim Council of Britain, said the creation of the group had been driven by Muslims rather than the government.

He said: "We felt we needed something of this nature to help create a better structured approach to how we are educating our children. We feel our children need to be taught that they can be proud Muslims and proud young British people.

"Anything that helps to make our communities stronger should be welcomed provided it's not used to isolate, control or change what a community is."