A British government-funded research project to study the growth of militant Islamic groups around the world has been canceled—out of fear of militant Islamic groups: Research councils halt Islamist project. (Hat tip: USS Neverdock.)

Research councils today confirmed they have put on hold their involvement in a government-backed project that aimed to identify the growth of Islamist groups around the world.

The decision by the Economics and Social Research Council and the Arts and Humanities Research Council followed accusations by academics that they would be putting the lives of British researchers at risk in Muslim countries.

In a joint statement this afternoon, the two councils said “a section of our academic community” had raised concerns about the research, which they “have to take seriously”.

A spokeswoman said: “We are consulting further with the community, that has already been consulted with, to make sure that their concerns have been heard.

”We hope that the study can be relaunched with a more open call."