Faith-based work: Muslim staff fear terror guidelines

A list of "unacceptable behaviours", which could lead to non-UK citizens being deported, includes "using a position of responsibility such as teacher, community or youth leader" to "foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs" and "foster hatred which might lead to inter-community violence in the UK".

Ajmal Masroor, spokesman for the Islamic Society of Britain, said: "Youth workers could potentially be accused of incitement. If young people can't discuss everything freely, the discussion will go underground and we won't know what they are saying."

Khalid Oumar, families and youth development manager at London's Muslim Welfare House Trust, said: "We believe there is a fine line to be drawn between helping vulnerable people and then getting blamed if that individual makes extreme statements." But councillor Mehboob Khan, Labour group leader at Kirklees Council in West Yorkshire, said the mention of youth leaders was justified. "You need to differentiate between terrorism and the context of having a sensible discussion," he said. "The legislation does not stop a mature discussion on terrorism." He added that youth leaders needed more accreditation.