Dear Sirs,

Re: Islam in Britain (Financial Times, Saturday April 3rd 2004, page 9)

The Muslim Council of Britain - an umbrella grouping of over 400 affiliated organisations, mosques, charities and educational institutes - was launched in November 1997. The formation of the MCB was the culmination of over three years of wide-ranging consultation, discussion and debate among leading national and regional Muslim organisations throughout the country about the need for a representative Muslim body to work for the common good. It was certainly not formed "at the behest of the government" as you so boldly asserted in your article without considering it necessary to supply your readers with any factual evidence that this was the case.

Indeed, it is precisely because the MCB has such strong links with established mosques and Muslim organisations in the UK that its letter to them last week explaining that combatting terror and saving innocent lives is an Islamic imperative obtained such an overwhelmingly positive response.

Your correspondent Friedereke did last week discuss these matters in some detail with our Secretary-General, Iqbal Sacranie. For some reason this was not included in your published FT piece.

Yours faithfully,

Inayat Bunglawala,
Secretary,
Media Committee,
The Muslim Council of Britain
Boardman House,
64 Broadway,
Stratford,