PM can't be scared to tell the truth

Jul 6 2007

HERE we go again...

Gordon Brown promised us straight-talking, but already he's up to the gills in political correctness: ministers have been barred from using the word "Muslim" in connection with the terrorism crisis.

We are not meant to mention that the suspects are Muslim.

What we must do, in fact, is to expunge from our minds any notion that the men arrested may have their roots in Islam.

Inverse discrimination like this sours on all sides. The overwhelming majority of British Muslims feel patronised and embarrassed when such steps as Brown's are made to soothe their feelings.

They have integrated, pay their taxes and pray their children do well enough at school and university to enter the professions.

The last thing they want is this "don't mention the Muslims" attitude: they are as opposed to fanatical would-be murderers as the rest of us.

At the same time, homegrown white Britain will resist being treated as children. Are we supposed not to know there is growing schism from fundamentalists in the Islamic world? We need openness in our society. We need to be able to speak openly to Muslims of good faith without feeling we are treading on eggs.

These are critical times. We need to be told to close ranks with law-abiding Muslims. They are under the same threat as us, don't forget.