Islamic extremism creates 'no-go' areas, says bishop

Islamic extremism in Britain is creating communities which are "no-go areas" for non-Muslims, the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Dr Michael Nazir-Ali warned yesterday. Bishop Nazir-Ali says non-Muslims face a hostile reception in places dominated by the ideology of Islamic radicals.

He also criticised the doctrine of multiculturalism for creating separate communities that fail to integrate into mainstream society. In a wide-ranging attack, Dr Nazir-Ali compares intimidation by Muslim radicals to that by far-right extremists. Writing for The Sunday Telegraph, he condemned the failure to privilege the established church which he says has led to a "multi-faith mish-mash". The Government's integration agenda, he writes, "lacks... a moral and spiritual vision".

Dr Nazir-Ali questions whether elements of sharia law are applicable in the UK and confronts the use of loudspeakers to spread the call to prayer. He writes: "... there has been a worldwide resurgence of the ideology of Islamic extremism. One of the results has been to further alienate the young from the nation in which they were growing up and also to turn already separate communities into "no-go" areas where adherence to this ideology has become a mark of acceptability." And he adds: "Those of a different faith or race may find it difficult to live or work there because of hostility to them... Attempts have been made to impose an 'Islamic' character on certain areas, for example, by insisting on artificial amplification for the Adhan, the call to prayer."