Osama Saeed writes to the Glasgow Herald after Joan McAlpine writes her column essentially blaming Muslims collectively for the London bombings:

Joan McAlpine (July 14) says Muslims must do more to combat terror.

It would be the easiest thing in the world for me to join many Muslim leaders to say exactly that.

This begs the question – did Muslims really hear people threatening violence in this country but do nothing about it? I can say without reservation that if I had ever seen or met anyone proposing or hinting at bombings I would have no hesitation in reporting them. The reality is we don’t know who these people are, even their families didn’t.

The prime minister has of course welcomed this attitude and indeed led from the front on it. “In the end, this can only be taken on and defeated by the [Muslim] community itself, ” he said on Wednesday.

By doing this he put the onus on Muslims to defeat terror, handily absolving himself of all responsibility. Muslims are not in denial of our duties as above. But much like global poverty, world peace can only be achieved by the prime minister and his powerful allies.

There is a phenomenon at play here, and it is Mr Blair who is in denial about his role in this. He was told by the security services that his and Bush’s war in Iraq would put us in more danger, not less. Had Iraq not happened we would still be facing problems. But Iraq is the current front through which violence is being funnelled.

The Italian Parliament have now braced themselves for an attack on their soil. Why do they think they are next and not, say Norway?

Jack Straw this week apologised for Britain’s role in the Srebrenica massacre. This is welcome, but these apologies need extended to Britain’s more explicit roles in creating the injustices in the Muslim world. From the mess left in Kashmir, to the promising of one people’s land to another in Palestine. Apologies would be a start, but need a recognition of our mistakes, coupled with a commitment not to repeat these errors.

Either you can think these suicide bombers are part of Islam, or an irrational reaction to the injustice taking place in the world.

If it’s the first you have to explain why this hasn’t existed for the 1400 years of the religion.

Osama Saeed, Scottish spokesperson, Muslim Association of Britain, 16 Queen’s Crescent, Glasgow.