"NO-go areas" for non-Muslims are being created in Britain by Islamic extremism, according to a senior Church of England bishop.
The Bishop of Rochester, The Rt Rev Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, says non-Muslims face a hostile reception in places dominated by the ideology of Islamic radicals.
He criticises the doctrine of multiculturalism for creating separate communities which fail to integrate in to the mainstream of society.
In a wide-ranging attack, Bishop Nazir-Ali compares intimidation by Muslim radicals to that by far-Right extremists.
Writing for a Sunday newspaper, he condemns the failure to privilege the established church which he says has led to a "multi-faith mish-mash".
Vision
He says the integration agenda pursued by the government "lacks...a moral and spiritual vision".
Dr Nazir-Ali questions whether elements of Sharia law are applicable in the UK and confronts directly the use of loudspeakers on mosques to spread the call to prayer.
He writes: "...there has been a worldwide resurgence of the ideology of Islamic extremism.
"One of the results of this has been to further alienate the young from the nation in which they were growing up and also to turn already separate communities into 'no-go' areas where adherence to this ideology has become a mark of acceptability.
"Those of a different faith or race may find it difficult to live or work there because of hostility to them.
"In many ways, this is but the other side of the coin to far-Right intimidation.
"Attempts have been made to impose an 'Islamic' character on certain areas, for example, by insisting on artificial amplification for the Adhan, the call to prayer."
Scaremongering
Inayat Bunglawala, assistant secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain accused the bishop of scaremongering about Islam.
He compared the call to prayer to the ringing of church bells.
He said: "Bishop Nazir-Ali appears to be exercised by what he perceives as the decline in the influence of Christianity upon this country, but trying to frantically scaremonger about Islam and Muslims seems to us to be a rather unethical way of trying to reverse this.
"He talks about the rise of 'Islamic extremism' but fails to mention how some of the policies of our government and especially that of the United States in the Middle East over several decades now has clearly contributed to this phenomenon.
"He complains of the Islamic call to prayer but presumably is content for all of us to listen to the ringing of church bells.
"As Jesus himself advised, perhaps the good Bishop may want to examine the beam in his own eye before pointing fingers at others."
Inflammatory
The bishop's comments brought swift reaction from politicians today. Shadow home secretary David Davis said the Government's actions risked creating a "voluntary apartheid".
He said: "Bishop Nazir-Ali has drawn attention to a deeply serious problem. The Government's confused and counter-productive approach risks creating a number of closed societies instead of one open, cohesive one - a voluntary apartheid.
"It generates the risk of encouraging radicalisation and creating home-grown terrorism."
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg - who recently declared that he does not believe in God - strongly rebutted Bishop Nazir-Ali's claims.
He said: "I strongly disagree with him. I don't think he has produced any evidence that there really are no-go areas - that is an extraordinarily inflammatory way of putting it."
He added: "I know our cities quite well and I don't think you can describe them reasonably as no-go areas for non-Muslims. That's what he is suggesting - he is suggesting the country is being carved up geographically according to religious identity."
And former Tory leader William Hague said Bishop Nazir-Ali had "put it too strongly".
He said: "I don't think that view is factually correct. I'm not sure where these no-go areas are, I don't recognise that description.
"I think the fact a bishop is speaking about this kind of thing does underline one point, which is that we need to do much more in Britain to integrate people to make sure that our community and our society works well together."
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Mark, South Manchester (06/01/2008 at 14:03)
Luke O,zade, NRW Germany (06/01/2008 at 14:20)
come-on-city (06/01/2008 at 14:57)
Funny how he doesnt give any details of where these no go areas are and fails to mention that most crime hotspot areas are predominantly white - e.g. Salford has more crime than other areas in Greater Manchester.
salfordsfullovblues, salford (06/01/2008 at 16:25)
thaitanium (06/01/2008 at 16:44)
He said: "I don't think that view is factually correct. I'm not sure where these no-go areas are, I don't recognise that description."
Well William perhaps your not going to the right places try moving out of your mermetically sealed motorcade and have a look.
PW, Manchester (06/01/2008 at 17:08)
BluePolarBear, ex of Stockport (06/01/2008 at 17:41)
The bnp and the Islamists (politically radical,misinterpreters of Islam)feed on division,and spread their poison in such environments.We must ensure that we promote integration,and a shared sense of who we are as people, which is British..British Muslim,British Christian..atheist whatever,(people are entitled to worship how they like,in their own space,but without imposing it upon others).Integration means a shared language,living spaces,communities etc and respect for law (which everyone has a right to try and change if they don't like it).Equal opportunities,for all people is a necessary plank of intergration too.Lets do our utmost to weed out cultural opt outs here too, ie professionals turning a blind eye to abuses of women in some communities,due to a policy of bowing to cultural,or religious norms.Cultural relativism has to be subordinate to the law,which no one can be above.
Sadly the governments policy of promoting faith schools,will merely increase division,in our society.Its an insane idea,and it's effects are opposite to integration and understanding.We have much to share,and would be doing better without bad legislation,and extremist rabble rousers.
sarahx, manchester (06/01/2008 at 19:06)
Chapman (06/01/2008 at 21:32)
world@peace (07/01/2008 at 09:32)
or is that against someones human rights
jomov, Manchester (07/01/2008 at 10:07)
When was the last time you were in Salford...obviously a long time ago!
The Bobelesque (07/01/2008 at 10:48)
GrayOne, Chorlton-cum-Hardy (07/01/2008 at 11:14)
ace, manchester (07/01/2008 at 12:03)
CrankedUpReallyHigh, Tameside (07/01/2008 at 12:04)
benjidog, Manchester (07/01/2008 at 15:07)
Kurt Stevens, Sale (07/01/2008 at 15:15)
BluePolarBear, ex of Stockport (07/01/2008 at 22:13)
There are many predominantly white areas, where I would feel very unwelcome..and similarly some areas, with higher black or Asian populations.There have been a small number of attacks by non whites on whites,and vice versa in recent years,so it seems a mistake to brand one group as dangerous,while ignoring the behaviour of the other.I say group,but really we are talking about a few,non representative, misled idiots,except in very rare, larger incidents (i e Bradford and Oldham of a few years ago).Thankfully relationships have improved slowly but definitely in some regions.
The ("honest guv we don't love Adolf")bnp,and some angry,twisted Muslim group,(who had never studied The Koran),were usually stirring it up at every opportunity.Sadly people's fears are always being whipped up by such groups,with their own agendas.
Also our poorer quality newspapers, have been guilty of misreporting,exaggeration,and being loose with the facts about Muslims.
Identically biased statements were being made in the press,about the Jews in the 1930's. Read the Daily Mail from the time,and see how anti-semitic,and rabble rousing it was.
Most Asians,whites,blacks etc are ok people.Thats not pc,it's called decency.