'The Muslim community has a duty to build better relations with other local communities'.

That was the powerful message being promoted at a national gathering held in Blackburn.

The event organised by the Association of Muslim Schools UK and the Lancashire Council of Mosques and aimed to inspire youngsters and those in a decision making process that they must see themselves as part of the wider community.

There were calls for teachers and students in Muslim schools to see outreach as an integral part of being a Muslim.

The conference entitled, 'From Isolation to Inclusion' also called for Muslims to play an active role in society and not just in their own community.

The biggest and most powerful messages came from leading Muslim clerics Sheikh Fazal Rahman and Dr Mukhdam. Speaking in Urdu and to a packed audience, Sheikh Rahman said, " A society may consist of people from many different colours, creeds and religions but we should not live as separate communities.

"Each community relies on the other and we must learn as much as we can about other communties."

"We must respect each other."

Dr Mukhdam who is the chairman of the Association of Muslim schools added, "There are over 900,000 young Muslims in this country and it is a shame 56% of those feel unsafe in this country."

"It is alwasy easy to blame others but within the Muslim community we have a very big problem. An identity crisis exisits. We have two conflicting poles. On one side extremists and the other the assimilation policy (giving up Islam altogether). Both lead to isolation."

"So the Association of Muslim schools aims to take on the challenge and help bring down the barriers of ignorance between communties."

Ibrahim Master, Chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques said, "This government has done more than any other to promote racial tolerance. We should applaud the efforts of those who have done so much."

The event was also attended by Peter Morgan, Director of Lifelong Learning (Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council), Sheikh Asad Madni and Steve Finnigan, Deputy Chief Constable of Lancashire Police.