Muslim women 'turning to extremism'

12 April 2012

Growing numbers of young Muslim women are turning to violent extremism, the Government has warned.

In new guidance for universities, ministers set out how easily impressionable students can be "groomed" for al Qaida-inspired activity by radicals on campus.

Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said universities face a "serious but not widespread" threat from violent extremism.

The guidance said there was "no single profile" of potential recruits.

"But they are likely to be young - generally younger than 30 - and male, although the number of women who support and participate in violent extremism is increasing," the guidance said.

The assessment followed the conviction of "lyrical terrorist" Samina Malik, who worked at Heathrow Airport.

She wrote poems about martyrdom and the beheading of unbelievers and received a suspended jail term last year.

A library of material for terrorist purposes was discovered at her home in Southall, west London.

Malik, 23, had claimed she had nothing to do with terrorism.

The Government guidance stressed that "the vast majority of Muslims" in Britain reject violent extremism.

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