BRITISH ARMY CMDR. URGES MORE MUSLIM RECRUITS

London, 19 Rabiul Akhir 1435/9 February 2015 (MINA) – A top British army commander says the UK military plans to boost the number of Muslims within its ranks.

“My highest priority is ensuring we continue to have the best possible talent throughout our army,” General Nicholas Carter, the chief of the general staff, the told on Friday, Press TV quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

This comes amid concerns about minorities’ low representation in the army.

According to General Carter, Muslims, who represent 4.4% of the UK population, make only 0.45% of the British army.

“Our recruitment from the black, Asian and minority ethnic communities has been improving over the years, but it is nowhere near where it needs to be. We have to do more,” the general added.

Now Jahangir Mohammed, from the Centre for Muslims’ Affairs in Manchester, says the army has “been trying to recruit Muslim soldiers for a long time, but they are not having much success. They only have got about 500.”

“They reason they say they want to have more Muslim soldiers is obviously because they are fighting in Muslim lands,” Mohammed told Press TV’s UK Desk on Sunday, adding that “but I guess it does give them some legitimacy that Muslims are also fighting.

He said: “Of course, the Muslim community here is not responding to their calls, because they view a lot of these wars as illegitimate, and they do not want to be seen to be killing fellow Muslims.”

Official data puts the number of Muslims at nearly 2.7 million of the British people. (T/R03/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)