A question on the topic of counter extremism and Islam was the subject of a debate last week in the Lords.
UKIP Peer Lord Pearson asked Her Majesty’s Government if they would encourage British Muslims “to identify, confront and expose their violent co-religionists”, as part of the overall anti-terrorism strategy.
Lord Singh said, “my Lords, does the Minister agree that much of the conflict in the Middle East and the radicalisation of young Muslims in this and other countries is due to the export of a cruel and medieval interpretation of Islam from Saudi Arabia that has been rightly criticised by Dr Shuja Shafi, the Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain?”
He went on, “should we not be doing much more to help people counter this extreme interpretation of their faith, which is doing incalculable harm to the image of Islam?”
The debate follows from a memorandum published last month by Lord Pearson titled “Shall we talk about Islam.”
Other Peers who participated in the debate included former Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Lamont, and Lord Paddick the former Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service.
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