Over-reaction 'could lead new generation into arms of extremists', warn leaders

Published on Sunday 13 August 2006 00:42

PROMINENT Scottish Muslims have warned that an over-reaction to last week's alleged terror plots risks driving younger members of their community into the arms of extremists.

Sami Khan, an Edinburgh Labour councillor and Muslim community leader, condemned last week's plots and said it was the duty of Scottish believers to defend Scotland and the UK.

But, in common with many Muslim politicians and organisations, he called on the government to rethink its "damaging" foreign policy.

He added that Scottish police had urged Scottish Muslims to report any incidents of racism, violence or abuse.

Khan said: "I was shocked and saddened to hear about the plots and the mainstream population should remember that the vast majority of Muslims condemn these actions.

"If there is any 'good news' in what happened it is the fact that the Pakistani government had a major role in helping stop these plots and so people should realise that a Muslim government is fighting to defend Britain from terror.

"That is a very positive development and we should be thankful to the government of Pakistan."

He added: "It is the duty of Muslims to defend the home where they find themselves, and that means Scotland. We are very conscious of the need to defend against extremism in the community and we try our best to scrutinise what literature is being given out around mosques and who is advertising and holding meetings.

"I would want the mainstream community not to react against Muslims in Scotland, because that risks driving the young to extremism."

Khan added to calls for the UK to rethink its foreign policy in order to head off calls from militants.

Yesterday Muslim MPs and representatives of Islamic organisations called for changes in the UK's stance on the Israel-Lebanon conflict, Iraq and Afghanistan so that Britain might be seen as impartial in its dealings with the Muslim world.

Khan said: "We British used to have a reputation for fairness and straight dealing across the Middle East and the Muslim world and I fear that has been very much damaged. We need to change our policy and see Britain have its own stance on foreign issues again.

"We are in the position of having to argue within the community that the best way to change policy is to use peaceful argument and persuasion, and I am committed to that, but the actions of our government make it hard for people like me who argue that the peaceful way of persuasion is the best."

Downing Street has replied to the open letter by saying that the Prime Minister is ready to meet Muslim MPs and members of the community.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council, which hosts Scotland's biggest Muslim community and its biggest mosque, said the council would convene its Forum on Faith, where religious leaders deal with problems, if requested. The spokesman also stressed that Glasgow took a "zero tolerance" attitude to racism.