Hardline youths divide Muslims from The Guardian

No one had ever seen anything like it. Friday prayers had finished and worshippers were streaming from London's Regent's Park mosque onto the streets. They had listened to a sermon preaching peace and tolerance. Now, on the pavement, there was anger and argument.

Outside the mosque a few dozen members of the Al-Muhajiroun, an extremist group, were burning a British flag. The response from the dispersing congregation was immediate. 'You don't represent us ... you disgust us,' shouted Masood Ruzaq. Another man waved his finger. 'I don't support Tony Blair, but you are supporting terrorism and you are taking Islam and destroying it,' he bellowed.


Oh, really? Well, Jason Burke, Anushka Asthana, Martin Bright and Tariq Panja, you blind or what? They burn the US flag all the time!

and this tid bit

The terrorist attacks and the Western response to them has forced latent tensions into the open - as the militants behind the strikes wanted. Anger at Israel's response to suicide bombings or US-led actions in Afghanistan and Iraq is genuine and profound. 'Of course it makes me mad,' said Fatima Iqbal, 31, a London-based journalist. 'I've never questioned my Britishness in the way I have done in the past three years. I see pictures of the Palestinians being shot or cluster bombs falling in Iraq, and I am torn. All my friends feel the same.'

Well, Fatima Iqbal, time for you, your friends, and all Muslims to decide their loyalties. You live in, receive your livelihood, and are protected by this country. You can choose your religion in this country but you cannot choose your religion over your country. It is this very country that provides you the freedom and protection to worship. The name, Fatima, sounds like a lady to me. My apologies if otherwise. If you are a female, answer this, do you want the Taliban back in Afghanistan?

Yes, think about your loyalties, but make your mind up fast. Time is running out.