Muslim Communities Urged To Join Terror Investigation

As the mainstream British Muslim community united to condemn the atrocities of 7/7, Metropolitan police commissioner Sir Ian Blair expressed his optimism on Saturday that there would be stronger ties between Muslim leaders and authorities in exposing hidden extremist elements.

He told BBC Radio 4, “The police and intelligence services don’t defeat terrorism -- communities do.”

Mr. Blair let listeners know that he was discussing a number of avenues with Muslim leaders, through which he hopes he can forge a tighter working relationship in combating terrorism.

He speculated that the new measures could include a confidential anti-terrorism hotline specifically for Muslims.

“We need to know who the young men are who are preaching outside the mosques rather than in it.”

Mr. Blair was optimistic about the implications of such a meeting for future relations between communities and the police, “This is a C-change -- out of tragedy comes hope.”

British Muslims are keen to distance themselves from the terrorists, who they claim do not represent the teachings of Islam.

A statement on Friday at a meeting of respected Islamic scholars in London read; “We are firmly of the view that these killings had absolutely no sanction in Islam, nor is there any justification whatsoever in our noble religion for such evil actions.”

Echoing the sentiments of many peaceful Muslims, Al Jazeera columnist Soumayya Ghannoushi shared her sadness at the brutality of al-Qaida,

“Madrid and Bali, Casablanca and Riyadh, I have come to predict al-Qaida's responsibility for a given criminal act through the following test. If I find myself at a loss for an answer to the questions: "Why the innocent?" and "For what purpose?” then, in all likelihood, the crime is of al-Qaida's doing.”

However the fears of those who anticipate a backlash against the Muslim community were stoked last Tuesday as a Muslim man was beaten to death outside a corner shop by a gang of youths who shouted anti-Islamic abuse at him.

In the Independent on Saturday Muslim writer Rajnaara C. Akhtar explained, “On the streets, there is often no differentiation between a terrorist and a Muslim in the minds of some people.”