The Editor
The Times

7th June 2006

Dear Sir,

Following last Friday's raid in Forest Gate, Dr Shaaz Mahboob (The Times, Letters, 7th June 2006) accuses the Muslim Council of Britain of 'making claims that fuel mistrust and antagonism towards the police'.

This a rather strange interpretation of the MCB's request for the police to respond to grassroots concerns among many Muslims, especially the younger generation, who increasingly feel unfairly targeted on account of the way they look or dress.

Of course, British Muslims should fully cooperate with the police and share any information that might help avert a potential terror attack - that is an Islamic imperative. At the same time, if the police make mistakes - as they inevitably will because of the very nature of this kind of intelligence work - then it is equally important that these are duly acknowledged.

This is not a matter of apportioning blame, but of maintaining trust and building a genuine partnership to defeat a terror threat that looks as if it will be with us for some years to come.

Yours faithfully,

Mr Inayat Bunglawala,
Secretary,
Media Committee,
The Muslim Council of Britain