The initiative suggests a step in the right direction. Whereas previous efforts to denounce and fight extremism from within the British Muslim community have proven rather ineffective in light of documented progresses many homegrown militants have enjoyed, this new project represents a ground-breaking approach that should prove to be the most efficient yet.
TRC has highlighted the importance of empowering moderate Muslim leaders at a grassroots level to counter the radicalization and recruiting processes that are very much present in European societies today . There is no doubt that the approach would represent a constructive complement to active counter-terrorist enforcement that needs to act beyond police operations. Last week, Tony Blair expounded on the concept, as he insisted that the UK cannot undertake terrorism if moderate voices do not assist the government’s counterterrorism efforts by confronting the rise of militancy as well. “If you want to defeat this extremism, you’ve got to defeat its ideas and you’ve got to defeat in part a completely false sense of grievance against the West,” said Blair, “The government has its role to play in this, but honestly, the government itself is not going to defeat this.” Blair made the statement in a testimony before a House of Commons committee held in the wake of the anniversary of the July 7 attacks (Terrorist Incident and Intel Report).
The statements provoked an outrage among Muslims in Britain, prompting harsh responses from leaders who felt insulted by the remarks. Evidence concludes that the 9/11 terrorists had links to Europe. In the years since the attacks (along with other investigations that led to more such discoveries), progressive and moderate Muslims alike have claimed to be working to confront radicalization in their community. According to the BBC, Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari , the Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, said “Mr. Blair’s remarks could hamper the good work being done.” Dr. Bari continued: “Blaming a community, especially those who have been working for the last five years to bringing sanity in the community, bringing peace and harmony in the community — This blaming is not helpful to us.” Another community leader, Mohammed Shafiq of the Ramadhan Foundation, an Islamic youth group engaged in fighting drug problems in northwest England, said, “[Blair] has made no effort to engage with people outside his usual comfort zone of Labour Party members and the usual suspects from national organizations. It makes us believe the government is not serious about engaging with communities on the ground, where terrorism can be fought and eradicated.”
Indeed, Blair’s critique, although understandable, did not give further details on how this mobilization is supposed to be undertaken and offered no insights on how to deal with some of the problems that would likely follow. TRC frequently points to the risks that moderate leaders may endure if they attempt to go head to head with some of the fundamentalist leaders . In addition, some Muslim community leaders have expressed concern that it may also reduce their influence and credibility among their adherents, especially since many Muslims feel an instinctive suspicion against what they see as an overly westernized adaptation of Islam’s doctrine—a fact that radical leaders use to their advantage. There is no doubt that while the aspiration to influence positively may exist, there are factors presenting real barriers for moderate Muslims.
It will not be easy for conscientious Muslims to tackle the issues that plague their communities; thus, increased aid, support, and security provided by the government would help bridge the gap between the British government and the Muslim community. The endeavor this new coalition of Islamic groups has taken points to enormous courage and seriousness that should be received positively and supported so that cooperation between the consortium and British policymakers can develop.
