Britain: Our values, our responsibilities

British Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly.

Excerpts from a speech by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly to Muslim organisations on working together to tackle extremism. Held at Local Government House, London, on October 11, 2006.

Britain is a country where discrimination on the grounds of race, faith, gender or any other kind is outlawed. It is a country where all have the opportunity to practice their religion freely - whether Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jew or Sikh.

It was this government that introduced legislation to protect people from discrimination on the basis of faith at work and in their day to day lives. And the creation of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights will give support to all faith communities in tackling discrimination and building good relations between communities.

This respect and recognition of different faiths isn't about government being politically correct. Examples of the sensitivity of British society in supporting religious freedom are everywhere. Whether it is employers with prayer rooms; faith schools; Kosher and Halal food in work places and public services like hospitals; or the provision of financial products that fit with religious beliefs - we should not let short term headlines swamp the many positives. And let me repeat something that is said privately to me frequently by British Muslims but not often said publicly. Britain is a good place to be a Muslim. British Muslims are central to our political, business and social life. There are an increasing number of Muslims in the Armed Forces, in the Police and in Parliament. They are there, in positions of great influence, because of their skills, their talent and their commitment to creating a better and fairer society for everyone.

And for Muslims our record stands comparison to any western country and to many countries in the Middle East and elsewhere. And it is this help - from the government and society as a whole - I want to talk about today in assisting the fight within Muslim communities against extremism.

There is no doubt that in this current climate anything that touches on the integration of Muslim communities raises complex issues and will provoke passionate debate. But I am certain, as well, that trying to sweep disagreements under the carpet will ultimately be more dangerous than discussing them openly.

The debate on the veil over the last week is an example of this. How should we respond when some feel uncomfortable when they see British women wearing Bhurkas or the veil? As I made clear at the weekend, this is ultimately an issue of informed personal choice. No one is suggesting that in a free and democratic country the state should decide what its citizens can and cannot wear, except in certain settings such as schools. But on one thing we can be clear. There is more that holds us together than divides us. I believe there are some cultural aspects we should share - speaking English and having a sense of British history and traditions for example. And all of this needs to be grounded in a set of non-negotiable values. They belong to us all. They are found in Islam as much as in Christian, Sikh, Hindu, Jewish and other traditions:

* respect for the law, freedom of speech

* equality of opportunity

* respect for others and

* responsibility towards others.

* And these values need all of us to defend them.

And crucially these values - non-negotiable values to which we must all adhere - are distinct from political issues where robust debate is needed. Freedom of speech, of opinion, after all is one of these key values. (Courtesy British High Commission)

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin