Senior Muslim scholar Sheiykh Allama Shahid Raza Naeemi OBE was speaking at an event to bring Kirklees communities together.

He said: "It can be very easy for mainstream organisations to talk about community cohesion and preventing violent extremism. But words need to be backed by action, commitment and if possible with resources.

"Mainstream Sufi Islam is a religion of moderation. Through moderation, we can achieve community harmony. To those extremists who are using and abusing the name of Islam by making silly ill-thought out statements, my message to you is leave this country if you are not happy.

"If you hate pork, if you hate other non-Muslims, if you hate the police, if you hate moderate Sufi Muslims, if you hate the British Government, then feel welcome to leave this country.

"We do not need you here to stir up hatred. There is no place for racism and extremism in Islam."

Over 80 people including locals, Kirklees Council officers, school workers, Lifeline Kirklees and senior police joined mosque leaders at a community function marking the end of Eid-Milad at the Gulzar-E-Medina Mosque in Westtown.

Speakers included West Yorkshire County Commissioner for Scouting Neil Leatherland; Kirklees police diversity manager Steve Bedford and senior Muslim cleric Mufti Shams-Ul-Huda Khan Misbahi.

Mosques have been in discussions with the Scouting movement over the last few months to see how the two sides could work together.

Mr Leatherland said: " 67 per cent of the international Scout membership comes from the Muslim world, yet, only three per cent of the British Muslim population is involved in UK Scouting activities. This is something which needs to be addressed quickly. The Scouts movement looks forward to working with local mosques involved with the Kirklees Faith Cohesion Network."

Mufti Shams-Ul-Huda Khan Misbahi added: "By launching this cohesion project with the police, scouts and Lifeline Kirklees, we will be able to take young people off the streets and get them involved in activities such as pony riding, where they can better get to know each other and make new friends."

John Messenger, chairman of the Cleckheaton-based Kirklees Discussion Group, said: "I found both the Muslim scholars comments very interesting and all the local residents really appreciated their words."