An act of betrayal against our faith

The 20 hooligans who disrupted our election strategy press conference at the Regent's Park mosque this week got their 15 minutes of fame.

However, they did so at the expense of Britain's 1.6 million Muslims. The thugs were evicted after 20 minutes but not before they had been filmed defiling a house of worship. Their act was a betrayal of the teachings of our noble Prophet Muhammad who famously said he had been raised to spread good conduct between people. Their breaking down of a mosque door, abusive language, and resort to violence is indicative of a criminal mentality.

We condemn these bully-boys but also their mentors who try to remain anonymous. They are a menace to society, but an even greater danger to British Muslims. It is the responsibility of the Muslim community to alienate these thugs.

British Muslims already suffer increased prejudice due to events beyond their control.

A British Psychological Society study found 43 per cent of Britons aged 13-24 admitted they had become more anti-Islamic since 9/11.

The Muslim Council of Britain is committed to working within mainstream institutions to fight this prejudice.

A recent fatwa from

Muslim scholars said European Muslims had a duty to participate in the electoral process to achieve social justice.

It is this approach the band of fanatics finds so objectionable. The 5 May elections will see a record number of Muslim candidates. We want to see more Muslims in our national political life.

We can understand disillusionment about the manner in which our country went to war against Iraq. But a mindset advocating withdrawal from society and indulging in selfpity is opposed to the spirit of our faith. It must be resisted and resist it we shall.