Communities stand united against terrorism

As details emerge of the deranged plans of the three men in Birmingham to commit acts of terrorism, Farooq Murad, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) issued an unequivocal statement indicating the Muslim community had no truck with their mindset, “The very thought of committing such a heinous crime of plotting to bomb and kill innocent citizens is not only wholly abhorrent but it has no justification in our faith. Such criminal behaviour should be dealt with by the rule of law”.

He added, “We would like to thank West Midlands Police and the local authorities and stress on community organisations to remain vigilant of criminal activities. We also encourage everyone to channel their genuine concerns and grievances through the democratic process. Even though this engagement often seems disheartening and futile, it is the only way for active and constructive citizenship”.

It was also very callous that a charity's good name, in this case the MCB’s affiliate Muslim Aid, was used in a fraudulent manner . It should be put on record that Muslim Aid had submitted a serious incident report to the Charities Commission in September 2011 regarding a volunteer who had been fundraising without their permission. Muslim Aid is a well known and respected charity that has worked over many years to alleviate the suffering endured due to natural disasters and assist people living without life's basic necessities.