Muslims to protest against terror attacks

Published on 13/07/2005 00:23

MUSLIMS are to take to the streets of some of Britain's major cities to protest against the terror attacks on London, it emerged yesterday.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) is hopeful that hundreds of thousands will take part in a series of marches to make clear their opposition to the terrorists.

Sheik Ibrahim Mogra of the MCB said it was important that ordinary Britons realised that the terrorists were not representative of Muslims as a whole. He said: "The idea is to show we are united in condemning this murderous act.

"It would send a very strong message to the terrorists and to the British public that we are against violence and want to live in peace. The terrorists will not drive a wedge between us."

It is understood that members of Britain's 1.5 million-strong Muslim community would march in cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester, Bradford and Leeds, while the demonstration may also include prayer meetings and vigils.

Meanwhile, the far-right British National Party was attacked last night for using a photograph of the double-decker bus that was bombed during last week's London terror attacks on an election leaflet.

The publication, printed for tomorrow's council by- election in Barking, London, contained the slogan "Maybe now it's time to start listening to the BNP" alongside the picture of the wrecked bus.

Opponents of the party have dismissed the leaflet as "disgraceful and sick", but the BNP's leader, Nick Griffin, yesterday defended it, insisting it was a legitimate attack on government immigration policies.

Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Mr Griffin said: "The Labour Party for years has allowed Islamic extremists to preach in mosques in Britain and use them to recruit people to their cause. It is the Labour Party to blame."

Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, said the BNP had "tried to cynically exploit the current tragic events in London to further their spread of hatred".

His shadow, David Davis, also attacked the BNP tactics. He said: "This tasteless and bigoted leaflet shows the depths to which the BNP have to sink."