It always amuses me when reporters ask for 'evidence'. Isn't researching stories like this (and if true it these are important issues) your job? Has the Post started digging yet?

Absolutely absurd comments from Dr Ally - he gives no evidence for any of his claims.

As a young Muslim with many Muslim friends throughout the city, I can honestly say that accusing most of us of smoking Cannabis/other drugs is total rubbish. And it most certainly isn't 'normal behaviour' for young people, regardless of their faith.

It would be stupid of me to say that young Muslims in Birmingham do not take drugs at all... because there are a small minority who do, but its a minority no larger than the Cannabis-smoking minority of any other faith/background.

I also know a number of Muslim women, and the majority of them are intelligent and socially aware - so again, I've no idea where Dr. Ally gets his 95% figure from.

I've no idea how this guy has ended up as the Head of Equalities and Diversity because, to be blunt, he seems to have no clue at all on what's happening in his own community.

Come on guys get real and enter the real World, what Dr Ally has been "alleged" to have said is not far from the truth. I am a young Muslim and can tell you that young Muslims today are no different to other young people and certainly do flirt with these vices. I know many young Muslims who take the odd joint regularly especially whilst at college and university, how do I know because I have been through it my self. This region has a huge problem with drugs and gang related offences and Muslims are regularly caught and convicted of drug related offences. If you want evidence go to your local snooker/pool club and you will see it for yourselves.

Just take a trip to Broad street on a Friday/Saturday night and check the club/bar scene and then say confidently that you saw no Muslims there, I bet you can't because its a fact.

As for Muslim women I am not sure where Dr Ally gets his figures from or whether it was a general comment but I wouldn't disagree with him, you see sister Sarah not all Muslim women are like you, a very high percentage are uneducated (Some come as marriage migrants) and are generally confined to their homes as mothers and home makers. You are from a small minority (yet a sizeable small minority) who do take an interest in your community. How can I evidence this you may say? well my mother for one would have no clue as to what the challenges are that face Muslim communities today, whilst my sister who is an accounts graduate would also have no idea as to what the challenges are other than what she picks up on from the telly on the odd occasion when she catches a glimpse of the 10 o'clock news and even those are national and international issues. However they are quite well versed as to what is happening locally within their clan or biradari when someone gets caught by the police or who is marrying who. Now this is not every Muslim woman but most, let me explain, when they are confined to their four walls and only get to see other women when they go to pick up kids from school or Mosque that is the only chance they get to catch upon the local community gossip (as well as funerals and weddings ofcourse). In the area where I live stats will tell you that more than half of the Women have never been employed..alarming yes greatly. Yet if they were given more opportunity to get engaged and interact more often they would become a great force in dealing with many of the issues that we face.

Sory but this is a fact just trying to be honest about it. Young Muslims are not grounded in their faith (a failure of our imams in connecting with them) and therefore, when young Muslims suddenly come across articulate well versed individuals they do feel guilty and at that time begin to think about making ammends, hence can sometimes be easy pickings for radicalisers (check out the profiles of those convicted for terror related incidents and you may be surprised to find some who have had a history of clubbing and drugs and no theological grounding).

I think it is fair to say that the Muslim community has huge challenges in dealing with our youth and they are not dissimilar to the challenges that all communities face with the youth today. Just ask the police and they will tell you that the biggest issues affecting most young people and in some areas predominantly young Muslims are the issues of drugs and gang culture and our prisons natioanlly have 11% of their prison population belonging to the Muslim faith which is alarming considering we represent only 3% of the natioanl population.

As for Paul trying to imply that you find it hard to believe that young Muslims would have the same interests as every other young people (i.e the odd joint, or drink) because they happen to be Muslim or in anyway their faith should restrict them is as ridiculous an assumption as those that you accuse Dr Ally as making because for most young people their faith,although important to them, is also quite alien to them as most don't have a solid theological grounding in their faith. Is this normal behaviour for Christians let alone Muslims? you say, well let me tell you sir apparently yes as this is predominantly a Christian country and most young people have drink and drugs issues yet at the same time most will say they are Christian if asked but in reality will not know what being a Christian means.

I am sure many will disagree with me but then I am also sure many choose to ignore reality and always appear to be deffensive all the time as opposed to proactive in dealing with the issues.

skyhigh, I find your initial comments to be highly faulted. As I made clear in my earlier comment - yes, you WILL find young Muslims on Broad Street/clubs etc taking drugs... but you won't find the majority of the young Muslim population of Birmingham doing this (which is what you seem to be implying). Similarly, you accuse most young people in general of taking drugs - which is again rubbish. Stats show that a small percentage of young people take drugs - not the majority... you've clearly fallen into the trap of following the media generalisation of young people.

However, I do agree with you that proper Islamic education of our young Muslims is lacking. Recently a report from MI5 stated that Muslims who are secure about their faith and have a good knowledge about it are unlikely to get brainwashed into radicalisation. It also made clear that those who have been found guilty of terrorist activities have had a background of involvement in drugs, crime etc... clearly not the traits of a good Muslim.

A significant amount of the blame for this lies with many Muslim parents who have lack education (religious or secular) and have no idea/choose to turn a blind eye to what their kids get up to.

Methinks Mushy has been spending far too much time in Al Faisal's surrounded by his sycophantic misanthropes nodding away like Churchill dogs, whilst he surrepticiously rolls his A grade cannabis inhis Aloo Paratha:p

Seriously, how can such a bigoted and egocentric man as I have been told by so many people he is, be allowed to say such things and remain in a council post ?
Is Councillor Rudge this powerful ?
Would Mushy have been allowed to get away with saying such things about jewish and black women and young people ?

Get the bigoted old dinosaur who for years has been sucking the community dry for his own benefit out BCC !

Wasting your time Andy. To quote Paul, 'I wouldn't know where to start'.

Finally a great man we all need

Whole world Needs A Leader Like This!

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks..

Separately, Rudd angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote:

'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. '

'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'

'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!'

'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'

'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'

'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'

Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, WE will find the courage to start speaking and voicing the same truths.