It has been a difficult year for young Muslim men in Britain since four of their co-religionists – Hasib Hussain, Mohammad Sidique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer and Germaine Lindsay – carried out the bombings that killed 52 people in London. As the anniversary of the 7/7 attacks approaches, there is a nervous feeling among those living in Scotland. Some argue that their repeated condemnations of the bombings are forgotten; others feel they have been forced to condemn too much while receiving little in return. Many react with annoyance to the suggestion that they are linked to the actions of men they view as misguided extremists and undeserving of the term Muslim. There is the frequent reminder that Muslims, too, were victims of the London bombers, while others are critical of the media for “drumming up” an Islam versus the West conflict.

Scotland on Sunday, 2 July 2006