“We need a twin track approach to counter-terrorism and community cohesion. It has to be both principled and pragmatic. We must work with non-violent Islamists and mainstream Muslims, while practising the values we preach.”

Andy Hull and Ian Kearns of the Institute for Public Policy Research argue in favour of a more nuanced approach than the crude anti-Islamism advocated by Policy Exchange and supported by Hazel Blears and Jacqui Smith. They write:

“… engagement with law-abiding, non-violent Islamists can play a valuable role. Shared interests, if not ideologies, are paramount: it is not in our interests or theirs for terrorists to mount another attack. That is not to say we have to agree with them on arranged marriage, homosexuality or creationism, but it does mean we have some important common ground, and we should make the most of it.”

See also the comments at ENGAGE.