[Mb-civic] Moderate Muslims must banish the enemy within >By Mansoor Ijaz

[Michael Butler]

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Moderate Muslims must banish the enemy within
>By Mansoor Ijaz
>Published: July 11 2005 20:25 | Last updated: July 11 2005 20:25
>>

The trust that binds citizens of free societies together was ­violated last
week when ­suspected Islamist terrorists set off a wave of bombs at the
height of London’s morning rush hour, killing at least 52 people and
injuring 700.

The latest tragedy is the 17th ­bombing carried out by al-Qaeda’s
­franchisees since the September 11 2001 attacks on the US. Its deft
planning and execution indicates that al-Qaeda continues to function
efficiently. For the perpetrators of London’s attacks to escape the notice
of the world’s most formidable domestic counter-terrorism service
underscores their resolve and cunning. Shopping centre bombings and attacks
on global trade routes ­cannot be far behind.

Al-Qaeda’s success in mutating from a centralised terror conglomerate into
an amorphous ideology with local, home-grown cells in target countries
challenges the big-power thesis of taking the war to the enemy before the
enemy arrives on your shores. Most disturbingly, however, al-Qaeda’s
­continuing success defines the central ­failure within moderate Islam to
­identify, control and stamp out its extremists. The enemy, it appears, is
already among us.

This is why the London bombings represent a milestone for moderate Muslims.
They can either stand up and fight Islam’s radical fringes from within or
sit haplessly by while the west does it for them. Verbal condemnations and
choreographed press releases against violent terrorist acts, as Britain’s
Muslim leaders produced last Thursday, are no longer sufficient. Real action
is needed ­ and fast.

America’s Muslims failed to rise up to their citizenship responsibilities
after the September 11 attacks, choosing instead to play the role of
aggrieved, helpless victims. Their voices in America’s body politic are now
marginalised as a result. Britain’s Muslims have an opportunity to set an
important example by elevating the duties of citizenship above fears of
looming civil rights violations.

That moderate Muslims do not take meaningful steps to irradiate al-Qaeda’s
cancerous metastasis in their communities is a stunning failure of
leadership and lies at the heart of the increasing distrust secular
societies have for all Muslims.

What to do? The action plan for moderate Muslims is uncomplicated if the
political will to combat Islam’s extremists from within takes hold. In
Britain, three steps would be effective.

First, forbid the use of mosques and other religious institutions to
discharge bigotry and hatred. As France has done already, Britain should
require each imam to pass minimum competency exams. Radical preaching must
be replaced with knowledge of how the Koran relates to daily life within
Britain’s secular traditions. Any imam failing to comply should be shown
politely to the departure lounge at Heathrow airport. Those that pass must
accept their citizenship responsibilities to become resources for
authorities seeking data on criminal elements residing in Britain’s Muslim
communities.

Second, open Britain’s Islamic charities to greater financial scrutiny to
identify those that fund terrorism. Charities should be asked to limit
foreign donations to 10 per cent of operating budgets and certify that the
remainder of their donors are British citizens who give from taxable ­ and
transparent ­ income sources. Stopping the flow of money is central to
dismantling al-Qaeda’s franchise strategy, where one or two foreign
“masterminds” oversee terrorist attacks with foreign money and logistical
support.

Third, form community watch groups made up of Muslim citizens to reclaim
Islam from the terrorists and committed to contributing useful information
to the authorities. Britain’s tolerant political environment has
transformed it into a haven for militant Islam. Communities joining together
to compile and analyse data on Muslim fanatics for use by British
authorities in official proceedings is the best way for moderate Muslims to
prevent the state’s anti-terror apparatus from appearing biased or being
used inappropriately. It would also be the surest sign that British Muslims
take their citizenship as ­seriously as their religion.

It is hypocritical for Muslims living in western societies to demand civil
rights enshrined by the state and then excuse their inaction against
terrorists hiding among them on grounds of belonging to a borderless Islamic
community. It is time to stand up and be counted as model citizens before
the terror consumes us all.
>
>The writer, chief executive of Crescent Technology Ventures, in 1997 negotiated
Sudan’s offer of counter-terrorism ­assistance to the Clinton administration
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