A body aimed at tackling extremism is being launched a year after the London bombings. The mosques standards body was a key proposal from a government-backed extremism taskforce.
The body is being set up by the Al-Khoei Foundation, British Muslim Foundation, Muslim Association of Britain and the Muslim Council of Britain.
In a unique move, leaders of four major British Muslim groups have agreed the body is essential to modernise and open up religious institutions.
The body's launch document speaks about the failings of some mosques, including the exclusion of women and youth.
The proposal for a Mosques and Imams National Advisory Body (Minab) was one of more than 100 recommendations to emerge from a Home Office-organised taskforce on extremism in the wake of the 7/7 London bombings.
Yusuf Al-Khoei of the Al-Khoei Foundation said the launch of Minab was a major step forward for British Muslims, not least because the different strands of the faith had united.
"Four organisations have come together for the first time and reached a consensus. It's a very positive move because the voice of moderation is coming up loud and clear. We are trying to decouple Islam from images and allegations of violence."
"We need more involvement of the youth, of our women - and more involvement in our neighbourhoods."
"We need our mosques to be more than places of worship, they need to be proper community centres."
"For too long there has really been no structure. I have seen people claim to be imams in mosques who could not even read or write."
Al-Khoei Foundation, established by Grand Ayatollah Al-Khoei (RA) in 1989, is the largest Shi'a Muslim religious-charitable organization. The Foundation has more than 15 branches all across the world, where it is responsible for the maintenance of Schools, Colleges, Universities and Islamic Centers.The Foundation is the only Shi'a Muslim organization that enjoys a General Consultative Status with United Nations.
