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Does Islam have anything to say about being Muslim and a spy? A verse of the Qur'an (Surah Al Hujuraat, 19:12) explicitly exhorts Believers not to spy on one another. Many Muslim children grow up learning various sayings of the Prophet like not trying to find fault in others, and that 'Whoever conceals the faults of a fellow Muslim, Allah will in turn conceal his weaknesses in this world and the hereafter'. This isn't looking good for recruitment.
On the other hand, well-known Muslim history is full of stories of Caliphs who went into the bazaars in disguise in order to ensure merchants did not cheat the public. Muslim jurisprudence also gives great value to the concept of 'the public good', and the protection of lives and private property. Many Muslims argue therefore that the entire concept of the suicide bomber is un-Islamic.
Like all great moral dilemmas, it can be argued many ways.
Whatever the theology, as Britz shows, there remain enormous ethical and practical challenges for any person who ends up spying on their own communities. For a person from a Muslim background in today's Britain, these challenges will inevitably be greater. Families can be politically and inter-generationally divided, while the assumption that everyone knows everyone is not far from the truth.
Meanwhile, the media and politicians from inside the community and outside give Muslims only two choices: 'You're with us or against us.' Add all this up and you have a lot of sleepless nights for potential MI5 recruits.
