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Malaysian president Abdullah Badawi calls for British Muslims to live under sharia law
By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent, In Kuala Lumpur
Last updated: 5:58 PM BST 09/06/2008
Muslim extremism in Britain will grow unless the Government and society learn to understand Islam, Malaysia's prime minister has warned.
Abdullah Badawi claimed that the legacy of Britain's imperial past has hampered its ability to appreciate its Islamic population.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, the prime minister urged Gordon Brown to allow the country's Muslims to live under sharia law, but also said that they must prove their worth to society.

His comments are set to fuel the debate over the role of Islam in Britain following the Church of England's attack on the Government for already giving more attention to Muslims than Christians.

A report, commissioned by the Church and published today, accuses ministers of paying only "lip service" to Christianity and marginalising the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, while focusing "intently" on Islam.

However, Mr Abdullah argues that the Government must do more to ensure Muslims don't feel discriminated against if it is to tackle the rise of radicalism.

"The failure to understand Muslims is driving a divide between the communities," he said.

"Gordon Brown must encourage a better understanding because Britain must appreciate its Muslims."

Mr Abdullah argued that Britain needs to come to terms with being home to immigrants from countries that it used to rule over.

"The British Empire expanded in Asia, everywhere, throughout the Muslim land, through the land of Hindus and the land of Buddhists.

"When they were ruling it was different because they wanted it to be peaceful and to keep it peaceful they had to use diplomacy.

"Now maybe the Government thinks they can forget it. It doesn't matter."

He said that Muslims in Britain were more likely to be radicalised because they feel ignored rather than due to religious reasons.

"Is it because of poverty, social unrest, deprivation, feeling discriminated against, thinking people don't care much because of the

colour of their skin. The could make them to decide to be extremist, not necessarily because of his religion."

Mr Abdullah, who was talking on the eve of a landmark summit of world leaders, echoed the calls of the Archbishop of Canterbury earlier this year for Muslims to be able to live under sharia law.

"They should abide by the law of the land, but they should also be able to follow their religious observances and beliefs, to express their duty to God.."

The conference on the Muslim world and the West, "Bridging the Gap",

begins today with political and religious leaders encouraging a greater

commitment to solving the roots of the divisions.

The Malaysian Prime Minister acknowledged that Muslims must also play their part in proving their value as immigrants.

"If they want to be respected then they must do something for the community," he said.

"They must not be a liability. They have to be an asset."

Story from Telegraph News:
Malaysian president Abdullah Badawi calls for British Muslims to live under sharia law - Telegraph