Terror fears as young Muslim women 'turn to extremism'

Published on Tuesday 22 January 2008 09:46

GROWING numbers of young Muslim women are turning to violent extremism, the Government warned today.

In new guidance for universities, ministers set out how easily impressionable students can be "groomed" for al-Qaida-inspired activity by radicals on campus.

Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said universities face a "serious but not widespread" threat from violent extremism.

The guidance said there was "no single profile" of potential recruits.

"But they are likely to be young – generally younger than 30 – and male, although the number of women who support and participate in violent extremism is increasing," the guidance said.

The assessment followed the conviction of "lyrical terrorist" Samina Malik, who worked at Heathrow Airport.

The 23-year-old wrote poems about martyrdom and the beheading of unbelievers and received a suspended jail term last year.