British Prime Minister Tony Blair met with two dozen leaders of Britain’s Muslim community at Downing Street on Tuesday 19th July, in efforts to find a way forward and ease inter-faith relations in the midst of the recent London Terrorist attacks.
The prime minister invited leaders of the Muslim community and business leaders along with the foreign secretary, Jack Straw, the opposition leader, Michael Howard, and the Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy. They discussed practical steps to be taken following the July 7th bombings in London.
The leaders emerged from the meeting pledging solidarity with one another to aid the government to tackle the problem at its roots. Discussions indicated a strong willingness among all attendees to go to the core causes of the suicide bombings that have killed at least 56 people and injured more and 700.
The meeting took place as Blair was also meeting Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The Afghan premier strongly condemned the suicide attacks and pledged that his country would offer its fullest support to fight terrorism.
Tensions amongst the hugely diverse faith groups in London and the UK have risen greatly since the bombings on July 7th and religious leaders from all mainstream faiths have quickly come forward to unite in denouncing the vicious attacks.
In the Muslim community, an attempt to counter extremism has been made by a publication of a fatwa (religious decree), stating that the "destruction of innocent lives is vehemently prohibited" by Islam. The fatwa was issued by religious leaders and scholars on Monday to be read out in Mosques across the country on Friday.
