Abdul Muhammad Bari, Do you have a long term strategy for reducing levels of extremism in UK Mosques?
Asked by the6thestate on Aug 15 2007 7:39:46 PM and supported by 38 members
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The current discourse about terrorism is dictated by a 'terrorism industry' who – without any evidence base – make the outrageous claims that British mosques are bastions of extremism. Whilst I await for that evi-dence to be forthcoming (number of mosques? Which mosques? What message?), I think you will find that the scourge of extremism is a very modern phenomenon. This requires a collective response.
Because of the inability of a lot of our mosques to reach out and empa-thise with young people, demagogues outside the mosque, in youth clubs, cafes and increasingly on the internet, prey on our young. They capitalise on the inability of our mosques and pointing to the demonisation Muslims face in the media, arguing that Muslims have no place in this society.
Internally, the MCB and the community in general are looking at strength-ening our internal capacity to ensure that mosques follow good practice. That they can empathise with the young and are welcoming of all. This has less to do with theology and more to do with capacity building.
Mosques up and down the country have been set up by local communities, in homes, converted warehouse and shops. With meagre resources, they have tried to provide the most basic of religious services, but in a lan-guage that caters for the first generation.