Muslim community groups have responded angrily to a government letter that urged British Imams and mosque officials to challenge "men of hate" who preach extremism.
The letter -- written by Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and Lord Tariq Ahmad -- was sent to mosques all over the country:
.... In response, Muslim community groups described the letter as "patronising."
Harun Khan, the Deputy Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain [MCB], told the media that "We will be writing to Mr Eric Pickles to ask that he clarifies his request to Muslims to 'explain and demonstrate how faith in Islam can be part of British identity'. Is Mr Pickles seriously suggesting, as do members of the far right, that Muslims and Islam are inherently apart from British society?" [Gatestone Institute] Read more
