U.K. - BIRMINGHAM: BIRMINGHAM TORIES COURT MOSLEMS...

Tories court Muslim community
Dec 6 2006
By Rhona Ganguly

The threat of terrorism can only be reduced if politicians communicate with the Muslim community, the Conservative Party has warned.

At a private meeting in Birmingham, the party's National and International Security Policy group met leading members of the city's Muslim community to discuss national cohesion.

Dame Pauline Neville-Jones, who headed the dialogue, said it was important to listen to the views of the Muslim community in Birmingham following increased scrutiny of the religion since the terrorism attacks of July 7 and September 11.

"Our aim obviously is to put forward to the leadership of the Conservative Party some really practical solutions," she said. "What we all want is a safe society and a secure society where we can debate honestly.

"We want to see the Conservative Party take a real issue in the subject and that requires effort on our part. We have had an extremely lively dialogue. We believe that we cannot learn about people's opinions if we sit in London. "

"This way we can talk to people on the ground and learn from their personal experiences and their living conditions and aspirations. I do believe that we do need to listen."

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