A community watchdog aimed at encouraging good practice and combating extremism in British mosques is set to kickstart a consultation on proposed standards.
The Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) will act as a self-regulatory body overseeing some 1,500-plus mosques as well as Islamic centres and schools.
A draft code of practice published by the body includes a pledge to promote civic responsibility and a requirement that activities will be open to women and young people.
A consultation on both the standards and MINAB's constitution is being launched on Thursday.
MINAB was founded by an alliance of the Muslim Council of Britain, the Muslim Association of Britain, the British Muslim Forum and the Al-Khoei Foundation.
The body is more than two years in the making, prompted by calls from ministers for dialogue with the Muslim community following the July 2005 London bombings.
As part of the initiative MINAB is asking mosque leaders to sign up to a 10-point "code of conduct".
The proposed standards include having good corporate governance, suitably trained and experienced spiritual leaders and ensuring there is nothing stopping women and young people participating in activities.
Mosques will also be required to promote the civic responsibility of Muslims in the wider society. And random spot checks will take place to make sure that the standards are being maintained.
A spokesperson for the MINAB steering group, said: "This will be a historic day for the Muslim communities in the UK as it not only marks the beginning of public consultation on the proposed constitution but is also the start of consultations on the first ever draft standards for spreading good practice in the governance of mosques, educational institutions and centres for training of Imams and religious scholars."
