On the spot: Osama Saeed

Published on Saturday 15 March 2008 18:46

Chairman of the Scottish Islamic Foundation

How do the attitudes of young Muslims in Scotland and Britain today compare with those of the last generation?

Tessa Barnes, Edinburgh

This is very complex, but the basic issue is they are not immigrants. They are a variation of the rest of the country, except more of them are poor. They're more likely to leave school without qualifications, to be unemployed and to be in prison than the population as a whole. Given that half of Muslims are under 25, this is obviously a problem.

Why doesn't the Muslim community do more to denounce Islamic extremism?

J Rogerson, Glasgow

I can't think of what more we can do. For example, we set up the protest against the Glasgow Airport attack a week after it happened, which we believe was the first Muslim-organised demo against al-Qaeda-inspired terrorism anywhere in the world. If we were able to weed out any terrorists, we'd do so in a flash. If people have concrete ideas on what more can be done, we'd definitely look at it. I suspect calming things down internationally would help more than anything.

Do you agree that arranged marriages are immoral, and those who force people into them should be prosecuted?

James Craig, Falkirk

There is a difference between arranged marriages and forced ones: the former involve parents or friends introducing potential spouses for their children to choose, and the latter are utterly reprehensible. In Islam, a marriage is not valid if consent is not present on both sides. I'm open to the idea of legislation in this area. I'd like to see more research, as well as a debate on suitable punishments. I'd also be interested in why currently the 'husbands' in these situations are not prosecuted for rape, and others as accessories.

You've criticised Martin Amis's views on Islam. Should he not have the same right to free speech that you want?

Alison McGeechan, by e-mail

Amis said all Muslims have to "suffer" because of terrorism, including deportation and other "discriminatory stuff". He worries about Muslim birth rates in Europe. I query why newspaper editors are so keen to publish such prejudiced views – without counterbalance it must be added – and that he's still viewed as a serious commentator on TV shows.