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UK terror tactics 'create unease' UK terror tactics 'create unease'
(40 minutes later)
The government's approach to terrorism is creating an atmosphere of suspicion and unease, the head of the Muslim Council of Britain has said.The government's approach to terrorism is creating an atmosphere of suspicion and unease, the head of the Muslim Council of Britain has said.
Muhammad Abdul Bari told the Daily Telegraph the amount of debate relating to Muslims was disproportionate.Muhammad Abdul Bari told the Daily Telegraph the amount of debate relating to Muslims was disproportionate.
He cited Nazi Germany in the 1930s as an example of how people's minds could be poisoned against a whole community. He cited Nazi Germany in the 1930s as an example of how people's minds could be poisoned against a community.
The Home Office said it would not allow terrorists to undermine Britain's long history of strong community relations.The Home Office said it would not allow terrorists to undermine Britain's long history of strong community relations.
Scaring the communityScaring the community
In a wide-ranging interview with the paper, Dr Bari said: "There is a disproportionate amount of discussion surrounding us. Dr Bari's remarks follow recent comments from MI5 chief Jonathan Evans that there are 2,000 people living in Britain who pose a terrorism-related danger, and that youngsters aged 15 are being groomed to be suicide bombers.
Dr Bari told the paper: "There is a disproportionate amount of discussion surrounding us.
"The air is thick with suspicion and unease. It is not good for the Muslim community, it is not good for society."The air is thick with suspicion and unease. It is not good for the Muslim community, it is not good for society.
We are seen as creating problems, not as bringing anything, and that is not good for society Muhammad Abdul Bari "Every society has to be really careful so that situation does not lead us to a time when people's minds can be poisoned as they were in the 1930s. There is a danger that the word Muslim in the UK is becoming synonymous with bad news Inayat Bunglawala, Muslim Council of Britain "Every society has to be really careful so that situation does not lead us to a time when people's minds can be poisoned as they were in the 1930s."
"If your community is perceived in a very negative manner, and poll after poll says that we are alienated, then Muslims begin to feel very vulnerable. He added: "I think it is creating a scare in the community and wider society. It probably helps some people who try to recruit the young to terrorism."
"We are seen as creating problems, not as bringing anything, and that is not good for society." Inayat Bunglawala, the council's assistant general secretary, agreed - telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was a danger of the terror threat being magnified "out of all proportion".
His remarks follow MI5 chief Jonathan Evans's comments that there were 2,000 people living in Britain who pose a terrorism-related danger, and that youngsters aged 15 were being groomed to be suicide bombers. "What you had in the 1930s was all sorts of popular fictions were spread about the Jewish community that they were responsible for all ills that were occurring to Germany.
Dr Bari said: "I think it is creating a scare in the community and wider society. It probably helps some people who try to recruit the young to terrorism. "They were made into folk-devils, and I think there is a danger that the word Muslim in the UK is becoming synonymous with bad news."
"Muslim young people are as vulnerable as any others. Under this climate of fear they will begin to feel victimised."
Muslim principlesMuslim principles
He added that while there was no justification for suicide bombing, the people who become suicide bombers were "really vulnerable". But Sir Paul Lever, former chairman of the joint intelligence committee, told Today Jonathan Evans had a duty to warn the public.
Dr Bari, who is married with four children and works as a special needs teacher, said: "I deal with emotionally damaged children. Children come to hate when they don't get enough care and love. they are probably bullied, it makes a young person angry and vulnerable. "One can't deny the facts, and the facts are that al-Qaeda-inspired Islamist terrorism - and I use the term Islamist, not Muslim or Islamic - is the biggest threat that our country faces today."
"The extreme case could be suicide bombers, it is all they have..." We must continue to work with the Muslim communities to increase their sense of inclusion Home Office spokesman
He also spoke of how he wanted to integrate British and Muslim cultures, but said this must work both ways. He added: "We mustn't demonise the whole Muslim community. It is a very, very tiny minority who are involved. But though 2,000 people may be a tiny proportion, it is still, in absolute terms, an alarming threat."
We must continue to work with the Muslim communities to increase their sense of inclusion Home Office spokesman "Everybody can learn from everyone. Some of the Muslim principles can help social cohesion - family, marriage, raising children with boundaries, giving to the poor, and not being too greedy," he said.
A Home Office spokesman said anti-terror laws were not aimed at a particular race, religion, or group: "They are aimed at terrorists, whatever background or section of society they may come from."A Home Office spokesman said anti-terror laws were not aimed at a particular race, religion, or group: "They are aimed at terrorists, whatever background or section of society they may come from."
He added: "We must continue to work with the Muslim communities to increase their sense of inclusion."He added: "We must continue to work with the Muslim communities to increase their sense of inclusion."
The Muslim Council of Britain is an umbrella group representing over 500 Muslim groups in the UK. 'Learn from Muslims'
Dr Bari, the chair of the East London mosque, succeeded Sir Iqbal Sacranie as leader of the organisation last year. In a wide-ranging interview with the Telegraph, Dr Bari also spoke of how he wanted to integrate British and Muslim cultures, but said this must work both ways.
"Everybody can learn from everyone. Some of the Muslim principles can help social cohesion - family, marriage, raising children with boundaries, giving to the poor, and not being too greedy," he said.
And he said that while there was no justification for suicide bombing, suicide bombers were victims as well as aggressors.
"Children come to hate when they don't get enough care and love. They are probably bullied, it makes a young person angry and vulnerable... the people who become suicide bombers are really vulnerable."
The Muslim Council of Britain is an umbrella group representing over 500 Muslim organisations in the UK.
It has been close to government in the past, but relations between the two appeared to cool last year.