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Facts
According to the Director General of the Security Service MI5, The 7/7 suicide bombers were motivated by a sense of injustice faced by Muslims in Britain and throughout the world.Eliza Manningham-Buller, the Director General of MI5 said in a speech at Queen Mary and Westfield College on 9 November 2006:
"The video wills of British suicide bombers make it clear that they are motivated by perceived worldwide and long-standing injustices against Muslims; an extreme and minority interpretation of Islam promoted by some preachers and people of influence; and their interpretation as anti-Muslim of UK foreign police, in particular the UK's involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq."
Read the full transcript on the MI5 website.
81% of British Muslims think the War on Terror is a war on Islam. 91% think the War on Terror has increased the threat of terrorism in Britain. .
Both statistics are from The 1990 Trust, 'Muslim views: Foreign Policy and its Effects' (Oct 2006). To read the full document, download it from the Black Information Link website.
Thirty six Justice bills, six anti-terror bills and five asylum and immigration bills have been introduced in Britain since 1997. Many young Muslims feel this legislation is aimed directly at them.
A Populous survey in June 2006 found that 50% of British Muslims aged 18-24 feel that Britain's laws are applied unfairly to the Muslim community.
For more details on the legislation, visit the Liberty website.
"I have a horrible feeling that we are sinking into a police state..." – George Churchill Coleman, Former Head of Scotland Yard's Anti-Terrorist Unit.
The Guardian reported on 28 January 2005 that George Churchill Coleman said:
"I have a horrible feeling that we are sinking into a police state, and that's not good for anybody. We live in a democracy and we should police on those standards... I have serious worries and concerns about these ideas on both ethical and practical terms. You cannot lock people up just because someone says they are terrorists. Internment didn't work in Northern Ireland, it won't work now. You need evidence."
Read the full story on the Guardian website.
