Ukip former leader Lord Pearson of Rannoch has been accused of stigmatising Muslims and using language that encourages hate crimes.

The peer faced criticism after calling on the Government to stop using the word Islamophobia, as it was reasonable "to fear the world's most violent ideology".

He also pressed for teaching in mosques and Islamic schools to be monitored for hate speech, arguing the Government needed to "get real".

Lord Pearson stoked controversy at Westminster telling peers that the hatred of non-Muslims was "central to radical Islam" and was being taught "in our mosques and madrassas".

He said: "Should not the Government get real by requiring all such teaching to be in English, as soon as possible, and by insisting on far greater collaboration from our peaceful Muslim friends in the meantime? After all, they know what is going on.

"And will the Government please stop using the word Islamophobia, because it is surely reasonable and not at all phobic to fear the world's most violent ideology, from which indeed most hate speech now comes?"

But his comments were met with a stern rebuke from a series of other peers, including Baroness Warsi, Britain's first female Muslim Cabinet minister.

The Tory former Foreign Office minister turned Lord Pearson's original question around and said: "Could I ask the Government whether, in pursuit of their anti-terrorism strategy, they will require preaching in the form of oral questions and debate in the Lords to be monitored for hate speech and Islamophobia against Muslims?"

She also repeated her criticism of Lord Pearson for having previously hosted Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the far-right English Defence League (EDL), in Parliament.

Noting Robinson was currently in jail, Lady Warsi said he was "now in a more appropriate place for someone who thinks, speaks, preaches and conducts himself as he does".

Communities Minister Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth said: "I agree with her about the importance of people in this House exercising discretion - of course, within the bounds of free speech - about what they say."

Liberal Demcorat peer Baroness Pinnock said: "Does the Minister agree that an attempt to stigmatise Muslims, as the original question does, is unworthy of any member, and that such language aids those who oppose cohesive communities and encourages hate crimes and attacks on both mosques and individual Muslims?"

Independent crossbencher and university professor Baroness Afshar said: "As a teacher of Islamic law, I should like to make a correction.

"Islam accepts all religions that preceded it - all religions of the book are accepted and respected.

"This is a Koranic teaching; therefore, there is no time or respect for anyone who demonises any religion, and that should include Islam as well."

Earlier, Lord Bourne reminded peers that it was a year since the terror attack on the Finsbury Park mosque, and recalled how the Muslim community had acted "with dignity, determination and compassion".

He said: "Our Government are clear on our strong objective to tackle hate crime. Free speech and freedom of belief are fundamental principles of our society."

By Nick Lester