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UK Imam: Extremists Have 'Hijacked' Islam

UK Imam: Extremists Have 'Hijacked' Islam

A British imam has countered claims that Islam is incompatible with values in the UK, saying that embracing "difference and pluralism" is "what makes us British".

In this exclusive statement to Sky News, Qari Asim, imam of the Makkah Masjid mosque in Leeds, issued the following call for acceptance and tolerance following a rise in attacks against Muslims in the wake of the Paris attacks.

He says:

The dreadful atrocities committed in Paris have been categorically condemned by Muslim leaders in Britain.

Ordinary British Muslims have also been at pains to emphasise the huge chasm between the true Islam, which teaches peace and tolerance, and the barbaric actions of those who have hijacked the faith to further their own geo-political aims.

Despite repeated calls for communities to unite in the face of the terrorists' attempts to divide them, unfortunately there has been a 300% rise in reports of attacks against Muslims since the devastating events of Paris , according to Tell-Mama, an organisation which records incidents of verbal and physical attacks on Muslims and mosques in the UK.

The rise in anti-Muslim sentiment is of deep concern to future community cohesion.

Various issues have been raised by those seeking to argue that Islamic values are incompatible with British values.

One issue which is repeatedly raised is that British Muslims have failed, or are failing, to fully integrate into British life.

The strength or otherwise of this argument really depends on one's definition of what "British life" or "being British" actually is.

If being British means contributing to social and political life, believing in democracy, tolerance, justice, respect for the rule of law, freedoms and social responsibility then there are countless examples of British Muslims upholding British vales.

One only needs to walk into NHS hospitals up and down the country to see the vast numbers of Muslim doctors and nurses manning the wards.

In recent years Muslim politicians have held roles in the very heart of Government; indeed the current Labour candidate for Mayor of London is a Muslim, Sadiq Khan.

Muslims are represented in all walks of professional life; accountants, lawyers, entrepreneurs, teachers, builders, chefs, taxi drivers etc.

The argument that Muslims do not integrate, because of their faith, is a fallacy.

I myself am an imam of one of the largest mosques in Britain and am also a full-time practicing real estate lawyer in a global law firm.

I am proud of my religious and national identities.

There is no contradiction in Islam between one's religious and national identity.

I am proud to be a Muslim and a Brit because Britain is a pluralistic society.

There is much to celebrate in the dynamism and richness that diversity has brought to this country.

What is true is that the manner in which this integration manifests itself may be different to the way in which other faith or race communities integrate, and some behaviours seen in wider society are not seen amongst the large majority of Muslims.

Some Muslims may also look different to what one might perceive a "British" person to look like.

Muslim women might wear a headscarf (hijab), or traditional dress, men might have a beard.

Many young British Muslim women have, for various reasons, chosen to adopt the headscarf to proclaim their religious identity, despite figures showing rising violence against visibly identifiable Muslims.

As a pluralistic British society, we must respect those women's freedom of choice.

Clearly, where young women are being forced to wear a veil or dress in a particular way, contrary to their wishes, such behaviour is not acceptable in a liberal multi-belief society.

Similarly, it will be against our British values to impose on Muslim women how they should or should not dress, whether they should or should not wear a headscarf.

Wearing a headscarf or growing a beard in any way does not prevent Muslims from becoming active members of society.

British Muslims, who wish to assert their identity through faith and adhere to British values must not feel intimidated, hated or even dehumanised.

Great Britain is by definition diverse and multi-cultural; it is the blending together of four great nations and the peaceful co-existence of these nations.

Within this, there has to be room for pluralism and difference; that's what makes us British and that's the essence of British values.

British Muslims are different in some respects to other communities in Britain but that should not make us any less British or any less able or willing to integrate and make a positive contribution to society.