The government has hampered the fight against extremism by shunning key Muslim groups, one of Britain’s largest Islamic organisations said today.
Miqdaad Versi, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said his group could have helped combat the appeal of Islamic State to young Britons, if the government had ever talked to them.
His comments came after concerns mounted over Islamic State’s continued ability to lure Britons, amid fears a family of 12 from Bradford may be on their way to join the extremist group.
The last Conservative-led government decided it would not engage with alleged non-violent extremists, and viewed the MCB as one despite it being one of the largest Islamic organisations in Britain. The policy is being continued now that the Conservatives have a majority. Towards the end of its rule, the Labour government also kept the MCB at arm’s length, but restored ties early in 2010. [The Guardian] Read more
