To be specific, "sidelining" of Christianity at the expense of Islam It is "common sense" for Christianity to be sidelined at the expense of Islam, a Government minister claimed on Sunday.
Hazel Blears, the Communities Secretary, defended LabourÂ’s policy on religion after a report backed by the Church of England claimed that Muslims receive a disproportionate amount of attention. She said it was right that more money and effort was spent on Islam than Christianity because of the threat from extremism and home-grown terrorism.
Ms Blears told BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme: “That’s just common sense. If we’ve got an issue where we have to build resilience of young Muslim men and women to withstand an extremist message.”
She added: “We live in a secular democracy. That’s a precious thing. We don’t live in a theocracy, but we’ve always accepted that hundreds of thousands of people are motivated by faith. We live in a secular democracy but we want to recognise the role of faith.”
| "As we try to diminish and ridicule faith, scoff at believers for their antiquated and dangerous thought crimes, atomize our society and ensure that all subjects enjoy the goodness of the state," she added. |
As The Daily Telegraph reported on Saturday, the landmark report commissioned by the Church and written by academics at the Von Hugel Institute accuses ministers of paying only “lip service” to Christianity and marginalising the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, while focusing “intently” on Islam.
However MalaysiaÂ’s Prime Minister warned yesterday that Muslim extremism in Britain will grow unless the Government and society
July 7 should be named "Muslim Appreciation Day".
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, the prime minister urged Gordon Brown to allow the countryÂ’s Muslims to live under Islamic law, but also said that they must prove their worth to society.
Mr Abdullah argues that the Government must do more to ensure Muslims do not feel discriminated against if it is to tackle the rise of radicalism. “The failure to understand Muslims is driving a divide between the communities,” he said. “Gordon Brown must encourage a better understanding because Britain must appreciate its Muslims.”
| What the hell business is it of Mr. Abdullah what happens in Britain? |
Malaysia - a land of tolerance, where everyone is identified by ethnicity and religion /s
“The British Empire expanded in Asia, everywhere, throughout the Muslim land, through the land of Hindus and the land of Buddhists.
“When they were ruling it was different because they wanted it to be peaceful and to keep it peaceful they had to use diplomacy.”
He said that Muslims in Britain were more likely to be radicalised because they feel ignored rather than due to religious reasons. “Is it because of poverty, social unrest, deprivation, feeling discriminated against, thinking people don’t care much because of the colour of their skin?”
Mr Abdullah, who was talking on the eve of a landmark summit of world leaders, echoed the calls of the Archbishop of Canterbury earlier this year for Muslims
Thanks, Rowan.
The Malaysian Prime Minister also acknowledged that Muslims must also play their part in proving their value as immigrants. “If they want to be respected then they must do something for the community,” he said. “They must not be a liability. They have to be an asset.”
| He means that differently than you and I would at first interpret it ... |