Britain's most influential Muslim umbrella group yesterday signalled a significant shift in policy as it urged its communities to play a key and potentially decisive role in the fight against terrorism.| Declaring that "condemnation is not enough", leaders of the Muslim Council of Britain appealed to all Muslims to work hand in hand with the police. |
But Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, the MCB's secretary general, said the current crisis meant that issues of conflict between the government, police and Muslim communities - who have clashed in the past over anti-terrorist incidents and foreign policy - needed to be put to one side.
"When the house is on fire, the concern must be not to blame each other but to put the fire out. Our country is under threat level critical." He added: "Those who seek to deliberately kill or maim innocent people are the enemies of us all. There is no cause whatsoever that could possibly justify such barbarity."
He said the police and security services "deserve the fullest support and cooperation from each and every sector of our society, including all Muslims".
The MCB has called a meeting in London on Saturday of key imams and activists from all over the country to discuss what Muslim communities can do to confront the threat and to discuss whether more should have been done in the past.
"It is our Islamic duty not only to utterly and totally condemn such evil actions but to provide all the necessary support to prevent such atrocities from taking place," said Dr Bari.
Inayat Bunglawala, the MCB's assistant general secretary, said anyone with information should not feel conflicted. He said the MCB was confident that affiliates would back the new stance. "The overwhelming majority of Muslims will understand the predicament our nation is in. The risk is not that we will lose affiliates. We are more likely to gain them."
Though shocked by the failed terrorist attacks on London and Glasgow, there are signs that the MCB and government are seeking to seize the moment. Relations between Muslim leaders and the Blair government deteriorated amid concerns that the prime minister, former home secretary John Reid and former communities secretary Ruth Kelly gave succour to those who sought to blame the wider Muslim communities for terrorism.
But Dr Bari was quick to praise Gordon Brown and Jacqui Smith, the new home secretary for the "calm and reassuring tone" of their comments since the weekend's attacks. "They made clear that it was unacceptable to hold any one faith group responsible for the actions of a few," he said. He also praised Alex Salmond, Scotland's first minister who provided high profile reassurance to Muslims north of the border.
The unfolding events, though horrific, may well strengthen the hand of moderate Muslim opinion. One source said: "There is little room for manoeuvre for those who have previously been in denial or have clung to conspiracy theories."
Anti-terrorist chiefs have been quick to stress the need for communities to provide them with the intelligence they need to find and monitor suspects. But close liaison between Muslim leaders and the authorities is also seen as crucial in the battle for "hearts and minds" to stop a whole new generation of young people becoming radicalised.
| The rallying call gained broad approval from Muslims shopping and trading in east London. |
A young woman in her 30s, her head covered, said: "We all know these people have nothing to do with Islam. They are extremists just like the BNP." But two men smoking by an electrical stall said some Muslims had grievances that only government could address. "They say it is because of Iraq and some say it is because of the Afghan attacks. Those in power will have to solve those problems first."