|PIC1|The Evangelical Alliance UK, representing more than a million Christians in the UK, has welcomed the appointment of the new General Secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, 5th June 2006.

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari has been offered the new post.

The General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, Rev Joel Edwards, as well as the Public Policy Director of the EAUK, DR R David Muir, have previously held a number for meetings with Dr Bari’s predecessor, Sir Iqbal Sacranie, regarding various key Home Office faith community initiatives.

Earlier in the year, Edwards promoted the EAUK’s latest initiative to instil respect into the community. He spoke about respect being a state of mind and the responsibility of the state in the fourth of a series of Winchester Lectures.

The Evangelical Alliance head highlighted the moral vacuum created by society and government that has increasingly driven Christianity to the margins.

|AD|The address also called for all UK citizens to recognise the power they have to impact and make a difference to the political process.

Edwards also spoke about the outcry from Muslims across the world to the printing of Danish cartoons illustrating the Prophet Mohammed.

“Both sides of the debate needed to take seriously the notion of respect. So, editors who recklessly attack a religion which has no iconography are guilty of disrespect, as are violent extremists,” said Rev Edwards.

The Evangelical Alliance, in an official press release noted that the new Muslim General Secretary, Dr Bari had a particular interest in family and youth issues, and the alliance stated: “We look forward to working with Dr Bari on these challenging matters facing Britain today.”

The Evangelical Alliance UK, formed in 1846, describes itself as an umbrella group representing over one million evangelical Christians in the UK, being made up of member churches, organisations and individuals. As part of a movement ‘uniting to change society’, the Alliance says that it promotes unity and truth, acts as an evangelical voice to the state, society and the wider Church, and provides resources to help members and other evangelicals live out their faith in their communities.