Free Republic

Attempts by the Government to engage with the Muslim community have backfired and are driving people into the arms of violent extremists, it has been claimed. A report by the think tank Demos said government initiatives since the July 7 attacks in London had tended to "drive a wedge" between Muslims and the wider community rather than isolate the extremists. The report - which was part funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government - accused ministers of failing to engage with Muslims over "reasonable" grievances, including British foreign policy in Iraq and elsewhere. The Government's attempts to involve...

MUSLIM terrorists are no more likely to come from places with large Islamic populations than anywhere else, according to Manchester academics. Dr Ludi Simpson and Dr Nissa Finney studied media reports to map the location of suspects charged under anti-terror laws. The Manchester university researchers found that the proportion of people who have been charged is no greater in areas with large Muslim populations. They warn that "branding" areas such as Bradford and Newham, in London, as terrorism hotbeds is not only inaccurate but creates an atmosphere of "prejudice and fear". Dr Simpson said: "We looked at the 75 cases...

A legal adviser who refused an immigration tribunal judge's request to remove a full face veil has been pulled off the case which sparked the controversy. Shabnam Mughal was taken off today's rescheduled appeal hearing and replaced by a senior partner at the Coventry-based law firm she works for. Speaking outside the hearing centre in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, solicitor Abdul Khan from The Law Partnership said the decision had been made in the best interest of the client and was not a reflection on Ms Mughal nor issues surrounding her use of a veil. He told reporters: "It is not an...