It is purely a myth that Muslims do not speak out about “Islamic” extremism, as it is a disease that affects Muslims in this country as much as anybody else, and causes great damage to relations with our non-Muslim friends and neighbours. Whilst not every Muslim has the time or ability to attend protest after protest, nor the ability to gain media interest in their “moderate” views, the majority of Muslims in this country just want to be able to get on with their lives free of hatred, whether used towards them or used in their name. A recent protest was held by the group “British Muslims for Secular Democracy”, attended by Muslims and non-Muslims together to show support for our shared British values of democracy, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. It is groups such as these that represent the views, and have the support of, the large majority of British Muslims.

The small number of extremists who call for their version of shariah law in this country are unrepresentative of British Muslims, and the issue is discussed in the video below by a well-respected Imam, Ajmal Masroor from the Islamic Society of Britain.

It is often stated that British Muslims do not make their voices heard. However, in the video above a non profit organisation called British Muslims for Secular Democracy is protesting against Al Muhajiroun also now known as Islam4UK. Al Muhajiroun was an Islamic group with extreme views. The protest demonstrates that Muslims are against extremism and are in favour of, peace, freedom and British values. The demonstration also shows the extremist group does not represent Muslims, far from in fact, and that one can be Muslim and patriotic.

There are many, many links to Muslims condemning extremists. The following list is by no means exhaustive:

http://www.muhajabah.com/otherscondemn.php

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/5111092.stm

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sheikh-issues-fatwa-against-all-terrorists-1915000.html

http://www.unc.edu/~kurzman/terror.htm

http://www.islamfortoday.com/terrorism.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4660411.stm

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4834890.Muslim_leaders_condemn_planned_Wootton_Bassett_militant_Islam_march/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/16/islam-synagogue-arson-gaza-antisemitism

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/muslim-protest-london.shtml

http://bit.ly/ai80dR

http://www.islamawareness.net/HonourKilling/honour_killings.pdf

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/29/world/europe/29iht-britain.4.8532445.html

http://www.religioustolerance.org/islfatwa2.htm