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Bishop warns of 'Islamic areas' Bishop warns of 'Islamic areas'
(40 minutes later)
A Church of England bishop has said Islamic extremism has turned some communities into no-go areas for people of a different faith or race.A Church of England bishop has said Islamic extremism has turned some communities into no-go areas for people of a different faith or race.
The Bishop of Rochester, the Right Reverend Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, said non-Muslims may find it difficult to live or work in some places.The Bishop of Rochester, the Right Reverend Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, said non-Muslims may find it difficult to live or work in some places.
He said there was "hostility" in those areas and described the government's multicultural policies as divisive.He said there was "hostility" in those areas and described the government's multicultural policies as divisive.
Muslims and some politicians have accused the bishop of scaremongering.Muslims and some politicians have accused the bishop of scaremongering.
But other politicians agreed with the bishop - saying he had highlighted a real problem.But other politicians agreed with the bishop - saying he had highlighted a real problem.
'Christian cause''Christian cause'
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Dr Nazir-Ali said there had been a worldwide resurgence of Islamic extremism, leading to young people growing up alienated from the country they live in.Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Dr Nazir-Ali said there had been a worldwide resurgence of Islamic extremism, leading to young people growing up alienated from the country they live in.
Not only locally, but at the national level also the establishment of the Church of England is being eroded Dr Michael Nazir-AliBishop of Rochester Profile: Michael Nazir-AliNot only locally, but at the national level also the establishment of the Church of England is being eroded Dr Michael Nazir-AliBishop of Rochester Profile: Michael Nazir-Ali
It had also turned "already separate communities into 'no-go' areas".It had also turned "already separate communities into 'no-go' areas".
He said there had been attempts to "impose an 'Islamic' character on certain areas", for example, by amplifying the call to prayer from mosques.He said there had been attempts to "impose an 'Islamic' character on certain areas", for example, by amplifying the call to prayer from mosques.
Apart from issues about noise levels, Dr Nazir-Ali said it also raised questions about "whether non-Muslims wish to be told the creed of a particular faith five times a day on the loudspeaker".Apart from issues about noise levels, Dr Nazir-Ali said it also raised questions about "whether non-Muslims wish to be told the creed of a particular faith five times a day on the loudspeaker".
The Muslim Council of Britain said the mosque call was no different from church bells ringing.The Muslim Council of Britain said the mosque call was no different from church bells ringing.
Dr Nazir-Ali warned of a multi-faith "mish mash" as the government promotes its integration policy. He said it was "an agenda which still lacks the underpinning of a moral and spiritual vision".Dr Nazir-Ali warned of a multi-faith "mish mash" as the government promotes its integration policy. He said it was "an agenda which still lacks the underpinning of a moral and spiritual vision".
He said the role of chaplains in such places as hospitals, prisons and educational establishments was in jeopardy "either because of financial cuts or because the authorities want 'multi-faith' provision, without regard to the distinctively Christian character of the nation's laws, values, customs and culture".He said the role of chaplains in such places as hospitals, prisons and educational establishments was in jeopardy "either because of financial cuts or because the authorities want 'multi-faith' provision, without regard to the distinctively Christian character of the nation's laws, values, customs and culture".
If there is no evidence he can put forward then it boils down to simple scaremongering Ibrahim MograMuslim Council of BritainIf there is no evidence he can put forward then it boils down to simple scaremongering Ibrahim MograMuslim Council of Britain
"Not only locally, but at the national level also the establishment of the Church of England is being eroded," Dr Nazir-Ali said."Not only locally, but at the national level also the establishment of the Church of England is being eroded," Dr Nazir-Ali said.
He added: "If it had not been for the black majority churches and the recent arrival of people from central and eastern Europe, the Christian cause in many of our cities would have looked a lost one."He added: "If it had not been for the black majority churches and the recent arrival of people from central and eastern Europe, the Christian cause in many of our cities would have looked a lost one."
'Gross caricature''Gross caricature'
The new leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, was highly critical of the bishop's claims, describing them as "a gross caricature of reality".The new leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, was highly critical of the bishop's claims, describing them as "a gross caricature of reality".
He told Sky News: "I strongly disagree with him. I don't think he has produced any evidence that there are really no-go areas - that is an extraordinarily inflammatory way of putting it."He told Sky News: "I strongly disagree with him. I don't think he has produced any evidence that there are really no-go areas - that is an extraordinarily inflammatory way of putting it."
He added: "That is not to say that there is not a legitimate debate to be had within our Muslim communities about the identity of modern Islam in modern Britain.He added: "That is not to say that there is not a legitimate debate to be had within our Muslim communities about the identity of modern Islam in modern Britain.
"Clearly there is a legitimate debate to be had there, because of the rise of extremism, particularly for young men in these communities.""Clearly there is a legitimate debate to be had there, because of the rise of extremism, particularly for young men in these communities."
But Conservative home affairs spokesman David Davis said the bishop had rightly drawn attention to a "deeply serious problem".But Conservative home affairs spokesman David Davis said the bishop had rightly drawn attention to a "deeply serious problem".
He said: "The government's confused and counter-productive approach risks creating a number of closed societies instead of one open cohesive one."He said: "The government's confused and counter-productive approach risks creating a number of closed societies instead of one open cohesive one."
We need to keep this issue in its proper context Communities and Local Government spokesman
He said Labour's support for multiculturalism risked creating a situation of "voluntary apartheid".He said Labour's support for multiculturalism risked creating a situation of "voluntary apartheid".
A Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "We need to keep this issue in its proper context.
"The overwhelming majority of Muslims are peaceful, make a huge contribution to British life and find the views of a small minority of violent extremists completely abhorrent. Britain also has a proud tradition of different communities living together side by side.
"But we are not complacent - the government has completely rebalanced its community cohesion strategy putting far greater emphasis on promoting integration and shared British values (as the Bishop acknowledges in his article)."
ScaremongeringScaremongering
Ibrahim Mogra, of the Muslim Council of Britain's inter-faith relations committee, described the bishop's comments as "alarming".Ibrahim Mogra, of the Muslim Council of Britain's inter-faith relations committee, described the bishop's comments as "alarming".
He said: "If there is no evidence he can put forward then it boils down to simple scaremongering.He said: "If there is no evidence he can put forward then it boils down to simple scaremongering.
"It is very worrying if parts of our country become no-go areas for anybody, and it is not acceptable."It is very worrying if parts of our country become no-go areas for anybody, and it is not acceptable.
"To suggest that a handful of people are beginning to create such areas where nobody else can go unless they are Muslim needs evidence to back such claims.""To suggest that a handful of people are beginning to create such areas where nobody else can go unless they are Muslim needs evidence to back such claims."
Akbar Ali, a Muslim community leader in Liverpool, said Dr Nazir-Ali was not being helpful.Akbar Ali, a Muslim community leader in Liverpool, said Dr Nazir-Ali was not being helpful.
He told BBC News: "This is something new I'm hearing. I'm sure when the Bishop of Rochester says something he has done his initial research to make such a pronouncement.He told BBC News: "This is something new I'm hearing. I'm sure when the Bishop of Rochester says something he has done his initial research to make such a pronouncement.
"But I would have thought that giving publicity to such radical views really makes the situation worse rather than better.""But I would have thought that giving publicity to such radical views really makes the situation worse rather than better."