Muslim groups draft rulebook for mosques to drive out extremists | November 01, 2007

Once again Britain, and British religious groups lead the way in sound process recognizing the unique role religions have to play in the development and protection of open democratic societies.

In this time of intensified security concerns, and when so many violent and militant actors claim Islam as their ideological foundations, there is a temptation and a tendency for knee jerk and panicked reactions leading to the erosion of religious rights and liberties, and ill-conceived and counterproductive heavy-handedness from secular and state actors.

In this article (<-- click link) we read the encouraging development in which Muslim leaders themselves are defining the parameters by which Islam might be properly understood, preached, and practiced. Thus with the hard work of this council, Muslim leaders from Great Britain tackle the challenge of militants not only with lip service, and even not only with theological and ideological debate and dialogue. The concern to uphold the beauty of Islam in an open, multi-religious society is also being undertaken utilizing the tools and strictures available to ecclesiological regulations.

The first attempt by British Muslims to set out the core standards and constitutions for Britain's 1,350-plus mosques and Islamic centres has been drawn up by a new body representing four leading groups.