Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly visited Bradford to launch the country's first programme dedicated to preventing Muslim school pupils falling prey to Islamic extremism.

The Nasiha Project, developed by 32-year-old Cottingley teacher Sajid Hussain, encourages young British Muslims to identify and live by the shared British values of justice, peace and respect.

Its curriculum promotes community cohesion and aims to help school pupils remain resilient to the small minority of extremists who peddle violence and hate.

A group of 16 Muslim Year 10 pupils at Nab Wood School in Cottingley, as well as students at five Bradford-based madrassahs - Islamic schools attached to mosques - have begun the pioneering programme.

Speaking at the launch at Nab Wood School yesterday, Ruth Kelly said: "I think this is a hugely-important project. Young Muslim men and women face unique pressures. There is a new kind of violent extremism today that seeks to divide our society.

"The minority that preaches violent extremism uses Islam as its cover. We have got to give an authentic voice to those in Muslim society who deplore violence. This project sets out to meet that threat in a way that young people can relate to."

The project will be rolled out to Muslim communities throughout the country later this year. Practical lesson plans will be made available to Imams, teachers, parents and young people.

The Minister reserved special praise for Mr Hussain, a chemistry teacher at Nab Wood School who pioneered the project with support from Education Bradford.

The project stresses that the alleged tension between core Islamic values and key British beliefs which violent extremists seek to portray does not exist.

Mr Hussain, an Oxford graduate and former pupil of Woodhouse Grove School, has spent about a year putting together the scheme, which is based on 30 lessons. He said: "The programme gives a coherent message as to what roles and responsibilities we expect our citizens to have."

Mr Hussain said it was vital young Muslims had "clear direction" coming from "pro-active" teachers, Imams and schools to ensure "misconceptions" did not occur. "At the moment they don't get that," he added.

The course encourages young people to play an active part in community life through volunteering and community work and stresses the importance of taking part in democratic life. It shows that the teachings of the Koran are rooted in respect and tolerance and teaches students that concrete value for human life and a rejection of violence is key to the Islamic faith.

So far a total of ten Bradford Imams have undergone training to deliver the programme, learn about child protection issues and improve English language skills.

Ruth Kelly added: "With around 100,000 young people attending madrassahs every day, the potential of projects like this cannot be underestimated."

Elaine Shoesmith, headteacher at Nab Wood School, said: "Our aim as a school is to help our students to be good citizens and we feel that this programme will help us to do that."

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