By: OnIslam & News Agencies
Source: http://www.onislam.net/
LONDON – Seeking to calm worried Muslims, British Prime Minister David Cameron has condemned recent attacks targeting mosques and Muslims, announcing that a high-level taskforce against extremism is set focus on violence against Muslim at its next meeting.
“I condemn these attacks absolutely, but more important than condemnation is action,” Cameron said during a visit to Jamia Mosque in Manchester earlier this week, The Muslim News reported in a press release on Saturday, August 10.
“I think we can say that this Government has taken action. The police have acted very robustly in response to these attacks.”
Suffering from an “unprecedented escalation of violence” since Fusilier Lee Rigby’s killing in May, the organization said people were living in fear.
The number of anti-Islamic attacks has increased as much as tenfold in the days that followed the Woolwich murder of Drummer Lee Rigby.
A series of attacks against Muslim targets included three terrorist bombings targeted at different mosques in West Midlands in July.
Tell Mama project, which monitors anti-Muslim attacks in Britain, has also reported 212 “anti-Muslim incidents” after the Woolwich attack.
The figure included 11 attacks on mosques, in a series manifestation of anti-Muslim sentiments.
Despite the seriousness of the attacks, which included bombing threats and explosive devices, no clear condemnation was issued from Cameron.
“I did, I’ve condemned all of the bomb attacks against all the mosques and I condemn these attacks utterly,” Cameron insisted when challenged at Jamia Mosque.
“I think it’s very important as I’ve said, the Police pursue those responsible, its completely and utterly unacceptable in our country,” he told The Muslim News.
“I recognize the seriousness of this problem and that’s one of the reasons my extremism taskforce at its next meeting will be looking at the problem of violence against Muslim communities themselves.”
The taskforce, which was launched in May in response to the death of Fusilier Rigby, comprises Cabinet ministers and top police and security service officials.
Government Role
Facing Muslim criticism, the Prime Minister said the Government had done more than any previous administration to combat Islamophobia.
“I would argue that this Government has done more than any previous government to combat Islamophobia in all its forms,” Cameron said.
We’ve changed the prevent strategy. We’ve empowered the police, we’ve worked with the community to monitor the outbreaks of Islamophobia and I don’t rule out taking more steps.
“That why I’ve said my extremism taskforce, the next subject were going to look into is violence and extremism suffered by Muslims communities themselves.”
Britain is home to a Muslim community of nearly 2.7 million.
A recent research published last June by The Independent newspaper showed that between 40 and 60 per cent of mosques and other Islamic centers (around 700) had been targeted since 9/11.
The number of anti-Islamic attacks has increased as much as tenfold in the days that followed the Woolwich murder of Drummer Lee Rigby.
Not only in mosques.
The research warned that Islamophobic attacks spreading across Britain have also targeted Muslims at home in the past month.
