Brit Muslim leaders 'failing to tackle extremism': Oxford academic

London, Mar 31(ANI): A University of Oxford academic has criticized Muslim leaders in Britain for not doing enough to tackle extremism.

Nick Chatrath, a researcher at Oxford's Faculty of Oriental Studies, claims in a paper to be published this week that in the face of growing radicalization in Britain, Muslim leaders are sweeping extremists' points of views under the carpet instead of facing up to them.

Based on interviews with radical Islamic preacher Anjem Choudary and Dr. Musharraf Hussain, an adviser to the Muslim Council of Britain, Chatrath said: "Moderate Muslim leaders are doing a poor job of tackling extremism in Britain."

"This attitude must change, as the best way to extinguish extremist arguments is to deal with them out in the open, not just sweep them under the carpet and hope for the best."

"Some recent polls suggest ordinary British Muslims are becoming more sympathetic to extremists, and this could be related to the way moderate Muslims are ignoring the extremist threat," The Times quoted Chatrath, as saying in his paper.

Chatrath's paper came as a committee of British MPs said that the programme set up by the Gordon Brown Government to stop radicalization and reduce support for terrorism had undermined community relations. (ANI)