A library photo of British Muslims in a London mosque.

LONDON , September 18, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The majority of the Muslim minority in Britain feel they share responsibility for rooting out extremism, a new poll showed Sunday, September 18.

The ICM poll, published by the British News of the World newspaper, found that 65 percent of those questioned bore “a lot” of responsibility for fighting extremism, Reuters reported.

The survey said 19 percent said they bore "a little" responsibility and nine percent said they bore none.

ICM interviewed 500 Muslims by telephone between September 1 and 7 for the poll.

British Muslim leaders pledged on July 19 active and effective participation in the government's efforts to combat the poisonous phenomenon of extremism for the welfare of British society.

They issued a statement stressing that “there can never be any excuse for taking an innocent life.”

But they underlined the need for a “genuine partnership” between the government and the Muslim minority to combat extremism.

Following the July 7 bombings which killed 56 people, including four British Muslim bombers, and an apparent failed repeat attack two weeks later, the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair pledged a host of new anti-terror measures.

But the new anti-terror measures have drawn fire not only from Muslim groups as demonizing their faith but also from politicians chiefly Ken Livingstone, the London Mayor.

Deportation

The poll further found that two-thirds of the 1.8 Muslim minority backed the government's plans to deport people dubbed "radical Islamists" and “hate preachers,” while 27 percent opposed the move.

A sweeping 90 percent of the respondents said they would immediately tell police if they suspected someone was planning or had carried out a terrorist attack.

British newspapers have revealed that police have drawn up a list of 50 "preachers of hate" seen as posing a threat to the national security to be deported under Home Secretary Charles Clarke’s list of "unacceptable behaviors."

In August, British police detained 10 people to be deported. Britain has also barred Islamist Omar Bakri Mohammed, who left for Lebanon in last month, from returning to Britain .

The Guardian revealed Saturday, September 17, that the government, facing fierce opposition from other parties and civil rights groups, was likely to make concessions regarding its new anti-terror bill to secure parliamentary support.

The main objection stems from a proposal to penalize “glorification” of terrorism as the word is too vague.

Under the proposed laws anyone who “glorifies, exalts or celebrates” any terrorist act committed over the past 20 years could face a sentence of up to five years.