'Church leaders claim Labour is favouring Islam'

Tuesday, 14 July 2009 10:20

The Daily Express and the Telegraph yesterday both featured articles on the report, ‘What Makes a Good City’, which has been presented to the Church of England General Synod this week.

The report argues that ‘since the 7/7 London bombings in 2005, ministers have become preoccupied with tackling Islamic extremism at the expense of Christian groups.’

Bishop Lowe, the report’s co-author, claims that the Government has become “unbalanced” in its approach to faith groups.

“Christian groups in particular have suffered irrational prejudice against their funding applications and a lack of understanding of the nature and sometimes fragility of the local church.

“There is a perception, perhaps justified, that it has been easier for Islamic groups to receive financial support than other faith groups”, the report states.

It adds: “There can be little doubt that the terrorism agenda has seriously unbalanced government relationships with the faith communities.”

Indeed, there are many Muslims that would concur that the ‘Prevent’ agenda has led to an asymmetric relationship between government and civil society, particularly Muslim civil society, with money indefensibly pumped into a plethora of pretty useless entities that serve narrow political objectives. But lest you, on reading the article, think that this is the fault of government and not Muslims, the Daily Express helpfully adds this to the end of the article:

‘Last year the Rt Rev Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, sparked controversy after speaking out against Islamic extremists.

‘He accused fanatics of turning parts of Britain into no-go zones for non-Muslims.

‘Dr Nazir-Ali, Britain’s only Asian bishop, warned of pressure to introduce aspects of Islamic sharia law into British society.

‘The bishop, who later received death threats, also blamed Government sponsored multi-culturalism for spawning increasing separation between Muslims and other faiths.’

What might have started as a debate on relations between faith groups and the Government as a result of PVE funding and its consequences, instead becomes - in the hands of the Daily Express - another stick to poke at Muslims and multiculturalism.