Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

'Let-down' Muslims call for 7/7 public inquiry

Jon Smith,Pa
Tuesday 04 July 2006 01:50 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Government has rejected criticism over its efforts to engage with British Muslims after the 7 July bombings.

Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting, said members of the Muslim working groups set up by ministers "feel let down" and called for a public inquiry into the suicide bombings.

The Department for Communities and Local Government maintained that many community-led projects were under way to help "root out extremism".

Speaking at a Fabian Society conference on "Being a British Muslim" last night, Mr Khan said: "What has happened to all the good ideas? Why hasn't an action plan been drawn up with time lines?

"There has been limited progress but there is an air of despondency. Only three recommendations have been implemented, and group members feel let down.

"I worry that the Government might become the Duke of York - marching all these talented British Muslims up the hill of consultation and dialogue only to march them down again as very little appears to have changed.

"We need to return to these ideas and this strategy. We need to show that it was not a short-term PR exercise, and that the ideas have not been shelved."

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "We are committed to working in partnership with Muslim communities to root out extremism and tackle the causes of radicalisation amongst a minority of our young people.

"The 64 recommendations developed by the Preventing Extremism Together groups represent a unique achievement.

"The practical suggestions the groups made were primarily for Muslim communities to take forward, although some will be delivered in partnership with Government, and some will be for Government to lead. To suggest that none of them are being delivered undermines the hard work that the groups have put in to tackling extremism."

The seven working groups set up by the Government in the wake of the London bombings reported last November.

They called for a public inquiry and were scathing about planned new terror laws. Lord Ahmed, one of the chairs of the working groups then called for the Government to prove the exercise was not a "one-off event".

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in