openDemocracy and Q-News invited Hisham Hellyer, a researcher in European multiculturalism from the University of Warwick, Humera Khan, a founding member of the An-Nisa society, Fuad Nahdi, editor of Q-News and Robin Soans, writer of the play Talking to Terrorists, to discuss the issues surrounding the London bombings of 7 July with an audience of key stakeholders in the debate. To download the full transcript, click here.
These are complex events and we at openDemocracy and Q-news feel that if we confine ourselves to the narrative that we feel most comfortable with and we are not open to new facts, then we will be tethered to explanations that dont necessarily work.
Isabel Hilton, chair
The first generation of Muslims that came to this country did not come with dysfunctional families and politicised views. I can remember, being someone who is from a migrant family in the early 60s, a passive community, keeping themselves to themselves. The question to ask is how this peaceful community can have children who are full of anger, hatred and susceptible to radical ideas.
Humera Khan, panellist
If someone from a century ago came to our times, he would be surprised and shocked and not recognise the Islam and the Muslims we have today.
Fuad Nahdi, panellist
I would like to say that if you have an extremist within your community, then tell him to read the Quran and leave it at that. I cant say that anymore because people treat the Quran as a do-it-yourself kit and this is really dangerous
Hisham Hellyer, panellist
Whenever there is a problem with black, Asian or Muslim youth, suddenly they become a problem of that community. When they are winning medals, they become British. How is it that our Britishness is so much more fragile than that of the white people?
Tanuka Loha, audience member
It is manifestly obvious to anyone in this country that the problem is Islam. I am not a Muslim and so I cannot talk about the theological divide that is happening in Islam at the moment and, for myself and all British people, this would be an interesting subject to watch but it wouldnt affect us. It is affecting us now because people from the Islamic community are now walking onto buses and blowing them up having spent several years in many countries doing the same thing, including, of course, Israel. Now, if we want to start this conversation by pretending that this is a societal failure, youre simply going to spend your time apologising for terror.
Douglas Murray, audience member
If British society views the kids that are involved in this project as separate to the rest of society, a lot of problems that they are trying to solve and the young people that they are trying to address will effectively be excluded from the rest of society.
Dominic Casciani, audience member
The problem is why, which the Saudis asked, a small number of people are willing to convert to this particular cult, the cult of al-Qaida. It should be seen as a cult separate to Islam, which has different aims and objectives to the majority of Muslims
Jamal Khashoggi, audience member
The issue of political agency and political action is important. Muslim youth have to find some channel for their political rage and anger. But it does not have to be called rage and anger. If we are talking about the left, it is called a political opinion. Hizb-ut-Tahrir is one organisation where Muslim people have found a political voice. There needs to be a series of options for people to choose from
Fuad Nahdi, panellist
This room is full of British Muslim intellectuals; each of you have been completely astonished by what all the others have said and thats a very bad sign. It shows that people are not talking to each other as they should.
Neil Ascherson, audience member
My conclusion is rather stark: I think the broad causes are known and they are series of factors that have produced humiliation and in the words of one of the experts, violence legitimised by religion, wipes away the stain of humiliation.
Roger Hardy, audience member
I found my British identity by finding my faith.
Sarah Waseem, audience member
It is extraordinary what a potent notion dignity is; personal dignity. One of the problems with young people is that they find it sadly lacking in their lives. It seems to me that anything, whether it be clearer leadership, whether it be more responsibility from politicians, whether it be better understanding and integration, needs to respect dignity.
Robin Soans, panellist
To read more of this exciting debate, download the full transcript here
