“Britain’s most influential Muslim umbrella group yesterday signalled a significant shift in policy as it urged its communities to play a key and potentially decisive role in the fight against terrorism.” So Hugh Muir claims in today’s Guardian.

In fact, at a press conference yesterday the Muslim Council of Britain reiterated the same message it has consistently sent out in relation to terrorism, namely that such actions should be unequivocally condemned and the community should co-operate fully with the police. Still, I suppose this sort of report is at least an improvement on the “Muslim leaders must take a stand against extremism” editorials and op eds that fill the right-wing press.

See also MCB statement, 3 July 2007