Sir, Dr Bari needs all the help he can get in his new post as head of the Muslim Council of Britain (report, Aug 14). His visit to a mosque to find the sermon in Urdu to a congregation which did not understand it needs urgent addressing and perhaps the Jewish experience of immigration can help.
It was soon after the arrival of my great-grandparents’ generation in the early 1900s that synagogue sermons began to be delivered in English rather than Yiddish, as the intention was to integrate while maintaining a cultural identity. In addition, every Sabbath service included, then and to this day, a prayer for the Royal Family and the welfare of the realm, a statement of loyalty I had thought unnecessary until recently. Perhaps changes such as these would encourage the general population to recognise the determination of the Muslim community to embrace British life as the immigrant Jews from Europe did before them.
BARRY HYMAN
Bushey Heath, Herts
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Sir, As a British Muslim I wholeheartedly support the comments of Shahid Malik, MP, about Britain’s Muslim community going that extra mile to address the tiny minority of young “Muslim” hotheads who wish to bring harm to their fellow British citizens and in doing so bring shame to the vast majority of peace-loving Muslims in the UK.
The irony is that most Britons have expressed concern about Iraq and the current Middle East conflict. The British people have a natural sense of justice, and if our politicians have got it wrong then we punish them through the ballot box and not by blowing up innocent men, women and children, no matter how strong we feel about the injustice of it.
The killing of innocent people is an evil act forbidden by the very religion these “martyrs” profess to live by. Generally Britain has been good to its Muslim community and equally the Muslim community is hardworking and law-abiding and makes an immense contribution to our way of life.
We have successful Muslims in business, politics and public service. Our healthservice is heaving with Muslim doctors and nurses. Islam has been a friend to Britain and Britain has been a friend to Islam. My advice to those who wish to spoil this good relationship is that you do so without the will of Allah and all decent people regardless of their religion.
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NIC CAREEM
London NW5
Sir, The open letter (advertisement, Aug 12) by the Muslim leaders is inexcusable. I believe that their subtext is that dissatisfaction with British policy justifies terrorism or that British foreign policy should be influenced by the threat of it. This is absolutely unacceptable.
The leaders should instead utterly condemn all forms of terrorism under any circumstance.
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JOSHUA ROWE
Manchester
Sir, Hassan Scott (letter, Aug 14) is to be highly commended for his letter. On the day that the Muslim Council of Britain admits that the foreign policy of Syria and Iran is endangering us all and costing the lives of Muslims, then it might find an audience more willing to listen.
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K. MITCHELL
Maidstone, Kent