From the Independent (and I also read this in a Reuters report): “Dr Asha was included in MI5’s ‘watch list’ after posting a message on the internet condemning the Danish cartoons of Mohammed, according to security sources.”

Is that all it takes to get you on a watchlist? Having a Muslim-sounding name and objecting to the Danish cartoons?!?

Whlst I can agree that the foreign policy of the UK is the event that pushes young British muslims over the edge it cannot be the only factor that plays with the mind of a young British Asian or “Asian looking” Muslim who gets sucked into the world of violence, revenge or terrorist actions.

I am sure that terrorism would disappear if the powerful nations ended their occupation wars and levelled the foreign policy in favour of morals.

However if the racism that is institutional, carried on along with the more powerful Islamophobia, then the young British muslims would simply riot or throw petrol bombs as a way of venting their frustrations.

So, the healing process would be a recognition of a number of additional factors in addition to foreign policy. God Willing the foreign policy will be changed, but to have a better community in the UK, alot more would need to be recognised and resolved I feel.

Agree with you but I still think the situation the UK is facing is purely FP related. Terrorists don’t recruit in a vacuum; their propaganda is out there in the open. Take a look at any of Ayman al-Zawahiri’s speeches: fighting foreign occupation, removing western sponsored dictatorships, fighting corruption these are all central in his calling. I’m not condoning his violent methodology in fact I think its completely bankrupt because ultimately it harms Muslims more than non-Muslims but we have to accept that these guys hijack genuine grievances, and with the complete absence of any responsible and competent leadership in the Arab world, try to capitalise on them. Notice the number of times the Palestinians have had to explicitly refute Zawahiri’s claims of representing them. I’m not suggesting that we get a list of Zawahiri’s grievances and start ticking them off one by one, no, never, because we’ll never be able to satisfy them but we shouldn’t be starting misguided wars and antagonising the situation further thus widening the recruiting pool.

I’m pretty sure that if it weren’t for the Iraq war the young Iraqi doctor in prison now would still be getting up tomorrow morning in order to go to work. Over time, he may have even become an Anglophile like the 1000’s of other religious/seculer/baathist Iraqi doctors who came to the UK to work in a generatin gone-by.

Wa alaikum salaam. Sorry brother but I have to diverged from that opinion and take a more traditional approach to such people. I think these brothers and sisters involved in terrorism are deeply rooted in false doctrine and deviate ideologies. They dont even think they are commiting sins against the people.

First we need to establish very succintly that these actions are forbidden. Secondly we need to impress upon the people that foreign policy shouldnt drive you to commit an action that is forbidden.

Lets not forget that terrorism isnt a recent phenomena for Muslims. There was tons of terrorism activity in the Middle East before there was against Western countries. That is always absent from the analysis.

Salaams Bikhair,

I’ve seen you pop up on various different message boards and always enjoy your succinct and erudite analysis. Now that the compliments are over.

Muslim on Muslim and Muslim on non-Muslim violence has existed since day one. It will outlive the Iraq conflict and our lifetimes. The democratic deficit and socio-political conditions in the Muslim world make these clashes inevitable, just like they do in some Central American and African states. There is nothing uniquely Muslim about this phenomena. The recent attacks in the UK are wholly linked to disastrous foreign policy decisions and nothing else. Nobody is suggesting that when the US/UK leave the ME, if they ever do, that there’ll be utopia. But in this day and age there is absolutely no reason to be starting ill-conceived wars and then not expecting any blowback.

Try killing 600’000 Brazilians or Ugandans and then see what the response is.

Disclaimer: I shouldn’t have to do this but in the current climate here goes, by the way I do not support violence in any way shape or form I am merely stating what I believe to be the case.

On Terrorism and Racism, I believe that non-native British Muslims are reacting also to racism amongst other issues, and not knowing how to articulate a response, are easily led down the ideological garden path by groups like the Saviour Sect. Yusuf Smith points to the difference between the US and the UK and how immigration issues in the UK are relevant. I think this rings true, especially his relevant point highlighting that the Afro-Caribbean communities were subject to a great degree of racism that resulted in the famous riots in Brixton and other areas.

The non-native British Muslims or Asians suffered racism too but it was a different kind of racism because the Asian Muslims kept their societies closed as a way of self preservation and were not as noticed as the Afro-Caribbean by the wider society.

What worries me now is that the racism problem is exacerbated with the added Islamophobic tendencies of British institutions and non-Muslims. I hope that this does not radicalise young people further. I note that the Media, as then, are now again playing their role in creating and propagating stereotypes. It is good to note that Muslim organisations like the Muslim Youth, MCB etc are trying to reach out and educate inside and outside. It is a pity that mainstream British society has not learnt the lessons from the Brixton riots and racism issues.

Umar Lee’s suggestion that Muslims should accept being stopped by police is naive and I hope he uses the opportunity of visiting the UK to understand the harassment of being stopped and searched continuously when one is considered to be a non-native Muslim. I can imagine that being constantly pulled out of a crowd because of your skin colour and religion can further highlight the racism in our society and play into the hands of the radicalisation process and into the hands of the radical recruiters as a way of empowerment for the victim.

As for the increased appearance of US blogs reporting how US Muslims are “different” and implying “better” than UK Muslims in terms of education and class, there may be a point here. However I find that this is a generalisation and over simplification of the issues based on my personal experiences in the US and which may help market US Muslims in a better light in the shorter term to the wider US society.

Lets not forget that terrorism isnt a recent phenomena for Muslims. There was tons of terrorism activity in the Middle East before there was against Western countries. That is always absent from the analysis.