A FAILURE by religious leaders to condemn a pastor who threatened to burn the Koran may have damaged interfaith relations in Oxford, a Muslim Imam has warned.

Dr Taj Hargey said the “deafening silence” from the heads of other religions, including Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, sent a “chilling message” to Muslims.

However, Bishop John last night said interfaith relations in Oxford are “strong and growing”, adding all responsible religious leaders deplored the threat.

Pastor Terry Jones, head of a small evangelical church in Florida, threatened to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, but later called off the protest.

Dr Hargey, Imam of the Oxford Islamic Congregation, said: “While it is right and proper that UK Muslims must root out extremism and fanaticism within their midst, surely other faiths should do the same with their own fundamentalists and radicals?”

“Here, in the city of dreaming spires, why has the Bishop of Oxford not publicly deprecated the immoral intentions of a fellow Christian minister to insult and denigrate the holy book of Muslims?”

But Bishop John said: “All responsible religious leaders deplore the attempt to burn the Koran. I am glad to say that interfaith relations in the city are strong and growing.

“There are meetings, conversations and initiatives going on all over Oxford.”

He said: “I encourage Dr Hargey not to despair. Pastor Jones would not get far in Oxford.”