Dialogue is crucial says Islamic expert

Jul 6 2007 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

Leading scholar Prof Akbar Ahmed in Liverpool last night greeted by Bishop James Jones; Dr Akbar Ali MBE, Mumin Khan & Zia Chaudhry at the Great Hall at Hope University _320

A WORLD leader in Islamic study last night said Muslims need to integrate more within British cities like Liverpool to help prevent them being branded as possible terrorists and cut prejudice against their religion.

Professor Akbar Ahmed visited the Great Hall at Hope University in Everton to talk about Islam’s relationship with the West, at a time when the issues are more relevant than ever.

His visit – arranged months ago – comes just days after two former Liverpool doctors were arrested in connection with car bombs found in London and an attack on Glasgow Airport.

He said: “Leadership within Muslim communities needs to make a more aggressive and proactive effort to explain our religion, I am all about dial- ogue, that is the only way through this. For example, here in Liverpool, some people don’t even speak English and they need to – they are living here and need to show they are contributing.

“Visual representation of Muslims in mainstream society needs to be increased and individuals need to integrate more to prevent the perception by some that their neighbour is a terrorist as he is Asian and has a beard.”

The scholar, whose book Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalisation has just been released, thinks current steps taken by Islamic figures are not good enough: “Just saying ‘Islam is peace’ is not going to help, we can see examples all around us in America, Scotland and London of violence and death so we need to be more sophisticated in our explanations.” Prof Ahmed, chair of Islamic Studies at the American University Washington DC and previously Pakistan’s High Commissioner in London, wants Government to do more too: “The Government has put just £1m towards the study of Islam – realistically how much can you do with £1m?

“That is nothing, we have a major crisis on our hands.

“However I am encouraged by Gordon Brown’s new strat- egy and his change in rhetoric.”

Professor Ahmed is receiving an honorary degree today at Liverpool University.

lizawilliams@dailypost.co.uk