Imam education needs better standards

This is very interesting: it parallels what we have been saying in Bradford. We need Muslim Mosque leaders who can engage constructively with the wide ['host'] community. In Bradford imams have tended to be improted from rural Mirpur and not to understand English and to even be defensive about the wider culture [perhaps not entirely surprisingly] in such a way as to simply replicate patterns of faith and life that apply to rural Mirpur but not so well to urban Britain. It would appear that something similar has been happening in France.

Of course it is not always so easy and it could come over as an attempt to interfere in the affairs of another religious set-up. However, it doe seem that everyone would be well served by have a better educated and more able-to-relate leadership. It is understandable that an immigrant community would want to have leadership that helps them to stay connected with valued and security-giving roots and heritage. However, if at some point that community becomes a stakeholder in the host community rather than simply a visitor, then a more constructive engagement is needed. In Bradford the proof of that is in the allienation fo young people form the Mosque leadership in many cases; either so that they become secularised or radicalised. Without wishing to comment, at this point, on the pros and cons of such responses, it would be better for the health of society [including global society] if the young people in such communities could feel that they can take a positive stance in respect of their parents' values. A more 'in touch' leadership would help.