Press Release - 15 May 2006

Money must be channelled into the voluntary sector to tackle Muslim extremism, says Charity

The government must channel money into the voluntary sector to help tackle extremism and improve community cohesion, according to a leading development charity.

The views were raised at a round-table discussion at Number 10 Downing Street facilitated by the deputy chief executive of the charity Quest for Economic Development (QED), Adeeba Malik MBE, earlier this week.

The event, attended by Prime Minister, Tony Blair, Minister for Women, Ruth Kelly, and Junior Minister for Women and Equality, Meg Munn, was held to find out Muslim Women's views on a range of issues affecting their communities.

Some of the discussion's key findings included:

• Money should be channelled into the voluntary sector to help improve involvement in public life and promote social and community cohesion at a grassroots level.
  
  
• Young Muslims must be encouraged to get involved in politics and public life. This will demonstrate that the democratic process can be used positively to influence wider society and bring about change.
  
  
• Equally, Muslim women must be encouraged to take more leading roles in public life. This could include becoming school governors, local councillors, JPs or community groups.

Findings from the event will be used to compile a report which will be distributed to all government departments to guide them in their policy and decision making.

Adeeba Malik says: "The discussion aimed to uncover what issues are central to the lives of British Muslim women, their families and local communities. It is clear that there are some fundamental issues that need to be addressed to improve cohesion in local communities. I am confident that the day's results will inform the government's future policy effectively and help improve peoples' lives right across the UK."

Ms Malik was invited to attend the event through her extensive work as deputy chief executive of QED and as a Commissioner with the government's Women and Work Commission.

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