This is an old thread, but I just started so here is my half-penny's worth.  I know the half-penny doesnt exist anymore but I was fond of it:

With regard to the original article at the beginning of the thread, I think it is a very good article and I came accross this Shaikh a few weeks back on the net.  What he says makes sense.

I am not sure what to make of the postings following the thread.

We are British Muslims.

Just like we don't call all Christian British criminals, Christian fanatics, or all Christian Paedophiles, Christian Deviants, I would appreciate, if others would not look at a handful of crazy people who have extreme messages (like Ed Hussain and his old gangs), and say that all British Muslims are like that.

Remember that of the 1.6-1.8 million British Muslims, the media and self-interested parties (Ed Hussain's new gangs) only focus on the handful of crazy people they can find to justify their own agenda of hate and division.

It would be far more conducive to focus on the mainstream views of the mainsteam British Muslims.