The perpetrators of the atrocities in London last month were roundly condemned by leaders from all sections of the community. The attacks struck at the heart of humanity and left an entire city gripped in fear.

No one in their right mind would disagree with the fact that the terror attacks were totally unjustifiable. There is no justification whatsoever in murdering and injuring innocent people going about their everyday business. There are no words to describe the devastation and loss of life caused to the families and friends of those who got caught up in this tragedy.

Whatever the presumed motives behind the attacks, it is important that they do not divide our peaceful communities – this is a time when, in the words of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, “we stand together.”

While politicians, community leaders, social analysts and others attempt to unravel the underlying issues behind the attacks, it is important that we keep a sense of perspective on this matter. It would be too easy to shift the responsibility of this callous deed on to the Muslim community.

The events of July 7th have to be a collective responsibility – it was an act of indiscriminate attack on all of us – indeed the victims were from many different faiths and communities. Every one of us must take action. If there is a murderer in our neighbourhood then it is every law abiding citizen’s duty to do something about it.

It is not the duty of the Muslim community to police their areas – they cannot and should not be held responsible for such acts of violence. Simply because this was not a case of any community harbouring the murderers – in fact not even their close family members had any idea of what was going on.

We must not forget some of the wider international issues which may have had an adverse impact on the minds of those who were thirsty for blood.

The illegal invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq and the continuing impasse in progressing the roadmap in Palestine, the shameful and torturous scandals of Abu Gharaib, Guantanamo Bay and Bagram prisons have no doubt left a humiliating scar on the Muslim psyche.

We must tackle these fundamental issues if we are ever to win the hearts and minds of our young angry men.

The successful launch of seven faith centres across Kirklees needs all our support and the organizers are to be applauded for the vision they have created in setting up this ground-breaking initiative to help create better understanding, tackle prejudice and improve dialogue between the different faith communities.

We hope all the Centres will be widely used, particularly by school children. We urge Kirklees Council to look towards sustaining its activities after the funding from the Home Office ends in March 2006.

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