MUSLIM faith leaders have labelled a senior government minister's letter to them as "patronising" and "unfair" after it asked them to do more to tackle extremism.
The 677-word text was sent to over 1,000 clerics and leaders by Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, on Monday (January 19), in response to the murder of 12 people on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on January 7.
The letter details how the Government believes, "British values are Muslim values" and "together we have an opportunity to demonstrate the true nature of British Islam today".
Ayman Syed, general secretary of Chelmsford Muslim Society, said: "Although patronising the letter means well and ends well, but it is a knee jerk reaction and the speed of which it's been released, for me, shows some tell-tale signs of the Government's view of Islam in the UK.
"The letter says every Muslim in the UK needs to be going around reassuring the public that we aren't like that and not to worry; it's ridiculous."
Kashif Ahmad, Imam of the Braintree mosque, said: "What I disagree with is the way the letter is written.
"I feel it's a bit condescending and seems to suggest all those terrorists are being taught in the mosques and that we are being blamed, which is patronising and unfair."
