Muslim Leaders Blast David Cameron Over Radicalization Comments
The British Prime Minister said that British Muslim communities should take more responsibility for countering the threat of radicalization, ThisIsLancashire reported.
But his comments have been slammed by Muslim leaders locally who have said that the whole community should not be blamed for the actions of a small number of individuals.
At a security conference in the Slovakian capital Bratislava, Cameron stressed the importance of trying to stop radicalization at its source and highlight the role of families and communities in tackling the problem.
He said "We've always had angry young men and women buying into supposedly revolutionary causes. This one is evil, is it contradictory, it is futile - but it is particularly potent today.
"I think part of the reason it's so potent is that it has been given this credence. So if you're a troubled boy who is angry at the world or a girl looking for an identity, for something to believe in and there's something that is quietly condoned online or perhaps even in parts of your local community then it's less of a leap to go from a British teenager to an ISIL fighter or an Isil wife than it would be for someone who hasn't been exposed to these things."
Abdul Qureshi, the chairman of Lancashire Council of Mosques, said: "David Cameron is wrong to say that the Muslim community is to blame.
"This is a very narrow view of the issue and places too much responsibly on the community.
"We are doing quite a lot to tackle extremism.
"When I go from mosque to mosque people tell me that they are distressed at the situation nationally and feel that they are powerless to help.
"The government and the police need to work with Muslims across the country to help tackle this problem as communities can't do it alone."
Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, the leader of Pendle Council, said: "I'm very disappointed in Mr Cameron's comments because 95 per cent, if not higher, of Muslims in this country are loyal to it.
"Talking about the 'responsibility' the Muslim community has on this issue is nonsense as there is no such thing as a Muslim community.
"We are all people and have individual views and can't be held responsible for other people's actions because not much can be done to influence them away from what they want to do.
"I can't imagine him lumping the Christian community in together on an issue and neither should we."
Salim Mulla, an executive member of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said: "The community in this region is doing all it can to fight any form of radicalization but the government and the police need to engage more.
"We are doing quite a lot to fight radicalization but no good will be done until more support is given.
"There are always going to be bad apples but the whole community should not be condemned because of that."
Zaheer Mahmud, a member of the One Voice charity that promotes civic engagement and social cohesion, said: "This is simply not a problem here in Blackburn.
"We do not entertain the story and give it the time of day because it's not a problem here.
"The types of people who try to go to join with IS are already isolated from their communities.
"A community can't be held responsible for what some idiots do because if they want to go, they will just go.
"The community here in Blackburn is taking the right approach about this issue because otherwise it might by talking about it more it might make it a bigger issue than it actually is for us here.
"These people will hear what they want to hear and the community should not give them any value.
"There is a counter argument of course but it's not as in your face like the IS argument is; it's a lot more subtle which is more effective."
Lancashire County Councillor Azhar Ali, who represents Nelson South, said: "The PM has gone bonkers on this issue and the government's Prevent strategy is wrong.
"I was an adviser to the last Labour government on this issue and I know that 95 per cent of Muslims in this country do not in any way support what IS are doing."
