The long anticipated terrorist attack on London has taken place.  We do not know yet who the perpetrators were. The security services yet have to investigate and determine the culprits. However, we extend to the victims of this terrorism our prayers and hearfelt condolences.

It was much anticipated that al-Qaedah would strike, not a question of ‘if’ but when and how, and perhaps that is why media seemed to have concluded before the evidence is collected that it was ‘Islamic Al-Qaedah’. Even the BBC dug out an ambiguous website called Al-Qaedah Jihad in Europe, proclaiming it as ‘previously unknown organisation’. Could it not be anyone? Police and other security agencies were more cautious in prejudging the identity of the perpetrators of this atrocious attack.

With the mention of Al-Qaedah, people intrinsically link them with Islam and Muslims, placing the whole community in the spotlight. Media, current affairs pundits and so called Middle East analysts all jumped to the same conclusion, and attempted to implicate Islam and Muslims without sufficient evidence.

Al-Qaedah has, no doubt, roots and followers amongst Muslims. However, this association should not be generalised and its aims must not be perceived as religiously based dogma. I always wonder at any comments by people who try to use the term Jihad to describe political conflicts as religious war or holy war. Why are some people’s minds still entrenched deep into the religious conflicts of previous centuries and why are they deliberately seeking out these ghosts from the past.

If these attacks are the work of Al-Qaedah members, they must be hunted down and brought to justice. They must be dug out root and branch.

It is hoped that the police, the authority, and the public at large, in Bath, will continue to regard the Muslims in their midst as law abiding as contributors to their community as whole and not react adversely as a result of these terrorist attacks, and undo the achievements reached by all sections of the community in counteracting Islamophobia.

We, at the Bath Islamic Society, condemn all terrorism from any source, and seek through our links with other groups to make our world a safer place.

Imam Rashad Azami