David Cameron has defended a letter urging senior Muslims to explain

how Islam "can be part of British identity", amid criticism from leaders.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) criticised some aspects of the letter,
including the "implication that extremism takes place at mosques".

Mr Cameron said the letter, written by Communities Secretary Eric

Pickles, was "reasonable, sensible and moderate"

The letter was sent to 1,000 Muslim leaders after the attacks in Paris.

The prime minister said Mr Pickles was "absolutely right" to write the letter
urging leaders to do more to tackle extremism.

"Anyone who reads this letter - and I've read the letter - will see that what he is
saying is that British Muslims make a great contribution to our country, that
what is happening in terms of extremist terror has nothing to do with the true
religion of Islam," he said.

"It's being perverted by a minority who have been radicalised."

'Proud of your country'

In the letter sent to more than 1,000 Islamic leaders, Mr Pickles stressed he
was "proud" of the way Muslims in Britain had responded to the Paris terror
attacks but added that there was "more work to do".

He wrote: "You, as faith leaders, are in a unique position in our society. You
have a precious opportunity, and an important responsibility, in explaining and
demonstrating how faith in Islam can be part of British identity.

"We believe together we have an opportunity to demonstrate the true nature of

British Islam today. There is a need to lay out more clearly than ever before
what being a British Muslim means today: proud of your faith and proud of
your country. We know that acts of extremism are not representative of Islam,
but we need to show what is."
But MCB secretary general Shuja Shafi said Mr Pickles' letter "could have
been worded differently".

In a reply to the communities secretary, he wrote: "We take the point that your
letter was written in good faith, and we agree with your assertion that British
values are indeed Islamic values.

"However, we do take issue with the implication that extremism takes place at
mosques, and that Muslims have not done enough to challenge the terrorism
that took place in our name.

"This is why we responded to the media, and an assertion in some quarters,

that you were somehow endorsing the idea that Muslims and Islam are
inherently apart from British society. We reject such notions.

"We also reject suggestions that Muslims must go out of their way to prove
their loyalty to this country of ours."

He said the MCB was working to "bring communities together and defy
extremists of all kinds" - and this was being done "not out of apology, but
because it was the right thing to do".