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David Cameron rejects criticism of extremism letter

David Cameron has defended a letter sent to Muslim leaders asking them to do more to prevent young people being radicalised, saying anyone who opposes it "really has a problem".

The Muslim Council of Britain has called on Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to clarify his request, and asked if, like "members of the far right", he was suggesting that Islam is inherently apart from British society.

Mr Cameron said the letter, sent to more than 1,000 Islamic leaders in the wake of the Paris terror attacks, was "reasonable, sensible and moderate".

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Pickles tells mosques 'more work' needed on extremism

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has written to mosques in England saying there is "more work to do" to stop young people from Muslim communities being recruited into extremism.

The letter co-signed by Eric Pickles said police had confirmed support was in place for mosques after concerns from Muslim communities. Credit: Reuters

In the letter sent to more than 1,000 Islamic leaders, and co-signed by communities minister Lord Ahmad, he wrote:

We are proud of the reaction of British communities to (the French terror attacks). Muslims from across the country have spoken out to say: not in our name.

But there is more work to do. We must show our young people, who may be targeted, that extremists have nothing to offer them.

We must show them that there are other ways to express disagreement: that their right to do so is dependent on the very freedoms that extremists seek to destroy.

We must show them the multitude of statements of condemnation from British Muslims; show them these men of hate have no place in our mosques or any place of worship, and that they do not speak for Muslims in Britain or anywhere in the world.

– Letter from Eric Pickles and Lord Ahmad
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David Cameron rejects criticism of extremism letter

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