Abdul-Rehman Malik (London Observer): Hear the true voices of Islam

Hear the true voices of Islam
Young, disenfranchised Muslims can only be reached by those they respect
By Abdul-Rehman Malik

Last week's meeting between the Prime Minister and 'moderate' Muslim leaders had all the appearance of an emergency synod - holy, serious and urgent. Noble intentions tumbled from the lips of the handpicked guests as they marched to duty. After an hour-long session, they emerged to announce the creation of a task force charged with tackling the 'evil ideology' of militant Islam, combating social exclusion and encouraging political engagement.

A tall order. Most young Muslims in Leeds, Oldham or other towns have never heard of the people the Prime Minister asked to speak in their name.

Furthermore, most of the titular leaders who gathered last Tuesday represent only fragments of a complex community - 56 ethnicities speaking almost 100 languages, by one count. Most are at their best when condemning terrorism. Few have been able to put forward a vision of British Islam that is convincing to the most marginalised, disadvantaged and prone to militancy. It's not a question of whether they deserve a voice at the table, but whether they are trusted by the Muslims they claim to speak for.

It is foolish to speak of a 'Muslim community' as if it were undifferentiated and homogeneous. In towns like Oldham, there are parallel communities - Pakistani and Bangladeshi, divided along ethnic and sectarian lines. How can any organisation claim to represent both communities nationally, when they are divided locally? Well-publicised visits to Leeds in the aftermath of the bombings to meet still more community representatives cannot make up for regular, sustained contact with Muslim communities at street level.

Even last week's welcome fatwas against terrorist violence should be regarded with caution. Fatwas are non-binding opinions and most imams in Britain do not have the power to interpret doctrine. Mosques have little actual authority in the lives of ordinary Muslims and the edicts of imams can be ignored or followed as Muslims wish. With most mosques not accessible to women and with more young people, like the bombers, seeking guidance outside them, Britain's mosques are caught in a crisis of relevance.