DAR AL HARB - U.K.: TONY BLAIR WILL LAUNCH A FUND TO PAY FOR EDUCATING IMAM'S

Blair to launch fund to improve teaching of Islam
by Matthew Tempest and agencies

Tony Blair will unveil a £1m fund to improve the teaching of Islam in the UK today, as he opens a two-day conference of Muslim clerics in London.

As well as the prime minister, the PM-in-waiting, Gordon Brown, and the Conservative leader, David Cameron, are to address the summit of more than 200 Islamic scholars.

Mr Blair will announce that Islamic studies will be designated "strategically important" to the British national interest - allowing tighter official scrutiny of university courses.

The government fund will also be used to help train Muslim imams in UK universities to reduce mosques' reliance on overseas ministers who may not understand British society or speak good English, Mr Blair will announce today.

A report commissioned by the Department for Education by leading scholar Dr Ataullah Siddiqui says that teaching of Islam fails to reflect the "realities" of the faith in modern day multicultural Britain, instead focusing too narrowly on the Middle East.

Mr Blair is expected to pick up that theme at today's conference, saying the public needs to hear the "calm voice of moderation and reason" of most of the country's Muslims.

And he will say that it is wrong to equate Islam and Muslim communities with extremism.

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PM's fund for imams' training to counter extremists

Fresh moves to stop young British Muslims being radicalised by foreign imams were unveiled by Tony Blair.

The Prime Minister announced government funding to train Muslim imams at UK universities to reduce mosques' reliance on overseas clerics, some of whom have been criticised for fuelling extremism, failing to understand British society and having poor English.

Higher education minister Bill Rammell also designated Islamic Studies courses as "strategically important to Britain's national interests, allowing tighter official scrutiny of university courses.

Ministers warn that the courses currently expose students to narrow interpretations of Islam and must be reformed to combat violent extremism.

Mr Blair made his announcement as civil liberties campaigners expressed concern over Gordon Brown's new plans for tougher anti-terror laws.

The Chancellor says he may revive moves to let police hold terror suspects for more than 28 days without charge - a proposal that was thrown out by MPs after a major Labour revolt.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Blair to launch fund to improve teaching of Islam

2) PM's fund for imams' training to counter extremists