A charity boss was today warning senior Government and business figures that the misrepresentation of British Muslims could help fuel Islamic extremism.

Dr Mohammed Ali, chief executive of development charity QED UK, was due to tell guests at the charity's annual review in Bradford that misunderstanding and chronic deprivation play into the hands of extremists.

Speakers were also set to include Lord Stevenson of Coddenham and Admiral Amjad Hussein of the Royal Navy.

Dr Ali was reviewing QED's achievements over the year, during which it has helped disadvantaged ethnic minority communities throughout the UK, but he was also expected to highlight the challenges still faced by areas where, he says, deprivation and fear foster vulnerability.

He will urge decision makers not to ignore the threat of extremism.

Dr Ali said today: "QED UK exists to help all disadvantaged communities in the UK, but five years on from Bradford's nights of rioting and one year after the atrocious 7/7 attacks in London, Muslim communities in the UK still feel vulnerable.

"With vulnerability comes fear and this, combined with chronic deprivation, risks creating an environment ripe for exploitation by extremists of all persuasions.

"This is something none of us can ignore if we are to build a safe and integrated society in which everyone is equal and destiny is not dependent on ethnic origin, race, religion or gender."

The event, at the Cedar Court Hotel, which is being supported by the Environment Agency, is QED's 16th annual review and was expected to attract 200 delegates including senior public and private sector executives as well as community grassroots groups and community workers.

During the last year, QED has helped 46 people from Yorkshire's South Asian communities find employment and helped a further 508 to find skills training as part of the Department for Work and Pensions' Narrowing the Gap scheme.

The charity has helped 80 UK businesses develop diversity action plans for their combined 35,000 employees as part of the Jobcentre Plus funded Employer Diversity Project and helped British Waterways engage with ethnic minority community partners in Leicester, London, Manchester and Birmingham as part of a public consultation.

It has also promoted the use of pension plans among South Asian communities as part of the Pensions Education campaign.

e-mail: fiona.evans@bradford.newsquest.co.uk