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| Kelly urges response to extremism | Kelly urges response to extremism |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The battle against extremism in the UK should be fought by all communities - not just Muslims - Ruth Kelly will tell a meeting of local authority officials. | |
| The communities secretary will say that extremism includes the threat from the "still poisonous" far-right. | The communities secretary will say that extremism includes the threat from the "still poisonous" far-right. |
| "The new extremism we're facing is the single biggest security issue for local communities," Ms Kelly will say. | "The new extremism we're facing is the single biggest security issue for local communities," Ms Kelly will say. |
| She will also urge a review of measures aimed to stop extremists influencing students in universities and colleges. | She will also urge a review of measures aimed to stop extremists influencing students in universities and colleges. |
| The meeting comes as the government continues to draw criticism from Islamic groups over the issue of whether Muslim women who insist on wearing veils are hindering integration. | The meeting comes as the government continues to draw criticism from Islamic groups over the issue of whether Muslim women who insist on wearing veils are hindering integration. |
| 'Key' councils | 'Key' councils |
| Last week, Ms Kelly said her department would give financial support to Muslim groups that prove they are trying to root out extremism within their ranks. | Last week, Ms Kelly said her department would give financial support to Muslim groups that prove they are trying to root out extremism within their ranks. |
| Why women wear the veil On Monday, she will broaden the debate by telling representatives from 20 "key" councils and senior police officers at the meeting in London: "This is not just a problem for Muslim communities. | Why women wear the veil On Monday, she will broaden the debate by telling representatives from 20 "key" councils and senior police officers at the meeting in London: "This is not just a problem for Muslim communities. |
| "The far right is still with us, still poisonous, still trying to create and exploit divisions. | "The far right is still with us, still poisonous, still trying to create and exploit divisions. |
| "Extremism is an issue for all of us. We all must play our part in responding to it." | "Extremism is an issue for all of us. We all must play our part in responding to it." |
| She will urge the councils to respond to the ways the world has changed since the 11 September attacks on the US and the 7 July bombings in London. | She will urge the councils to respond to the ways the world has changed since the 11 September attacks on the US and the 7 July bombings in London. |
| "The government has had to change and respond to that, and we appeal to local authorities to do the same." | "The government has had to change and respond to that, and we appeal to local authorities to do the same." |
| Veil row | Veil row |
| Commons leader Jack Straw sparked controversy almost two weeks ago when he admitted to asking Muslim women to remove their veils when visiting his Blackburn constituency offices. | Commons leader Jack Straw sparked controversy almost two weeks ago when he admitted to asking Muslim women to remove their veils when visiting his Blackburn constituency offices. |
| Over the weekend the continuing row focused on a Muslim teaching assistant who was suspended for refusing to remove her veil in class. | Over the weekend the continuing row focused on a Muslim teaching assistant who was suspended for refusing to remove her veil in class. |
| Government minister Phil Woolas angered Muslim groups and fellow politicians by calling for 23-year-old Aishah Azmi to be sacked. | Government minister Phil Woolas angered Muslim groups and fellow politicians by calling for 23-year-old Aishah Azmi to be sacked. |
| Find out about different styles of Muslim headscarfIn graphics | |
| It has emerged that the head of the Muslim Council of Britain, Muhammad Abdul Bari, has written to Ms Kelly, claiming that a recent "drip feed" of ministerial statements over the issue has "stigmatised" the entire Muslim community. | It has emerged that the head of the Muslim Council of Britain, Muhammad Abdul Bari, has written to Ms Kelly, claiming that a recent "drip feed" of ministerial statements over the issue has "stigmatised" the entire Muslim community. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What is happening, especially in the last few months, has been a barrage of demonisation of the Muslim community to such an extent that the community is now scared and the whole community feels vulnerable. | |
| "Ministers are not helping in this discourse within the Muslim community. | |
| "What, simply, they are doing is trying to undermine and marginalise further Muslim community, especially those organisations which have been working so hard for community cohesion." | |
| Ex-minister John Denham told Today he feared a series of pronouncements from members of the government had looked "like a barrage of general criticism" against the Muslim community. | |
| He urged a "genuine debate" that did not polarise the different sides involved because he feared otherwise Muslims as a whole could be perceived as posing "some sort of unspecified threat". | |
| Labour Lord Ahmed, the first Muslim peer, told Today: "Unfortunately, it's so easy for everyone to jump on the bandwagon and attack the Muslim community which has become fashionable and probably a vote winner." |