Kelly says extremist schools should close

Islamic schools that promote "isolationism" and extremism should be closed down, communities secretary Ruth Kelly has said.

Speaking on Sunday, Kelly said the government was opposed to any form of law contrary to British civil law, such as Sharia law.

And she said it was essential to "stamp out" abuse by Muslim educational institutions which sought to change the British system to fit their own values.

"They should be shut down," she told BBC News 24. "Different institutions are open to abuse and where we find abuse we have got to stamp it out and prevent that happening."

However Kelly ruled out a blanket ban Islamic faith schools.

She said Muslims were entitled to the same rights as Anglicans, Catholics, Hindus and Jewish groups which all had faith schools.

"If we do that, then I think it is absolutely right and proper that we offer the opportunity of a faith education to Muslims as well," she said.

"It is quite dangerous taking a blanket approach here.

"The vast majority of Muslim moderate opinion is law abiding and wants to be British and welcomes the opportunity to have British citizenship."

Last week Kelly launched the government's Commission on Integration and Cohesion, in which she urged a "new and honest" debate on diversity.

The commission, which was first proposed last July in the wake of the London terror attacks, came amid growing fears of alienation, especially among young Muslims.

Kelly said she did not believe the vast majority of British Muslims supported attacks on this country.

"Most Muslims would call those terrorists who would undermine the fabric of this society as not true Muslims but revolutionaries who are cowering under the cloak of Islam."

But the government would not allow any other form of law - such as Islamic Sharia law - to be legal for family use, Kelly said.

"We are not going down that route. We don't think that's compatible with Britain being a tolerant, diverse society that welcomes people of different faiths."