Do more? What else do you want us to do?

It has become an almost daily occurrence. Muslims are being told that they are either too extreme or not doing enough to tackle those who are perceived to be ‘radicalised’.

Over the past five years many Muslims have gone out of their way to assist the authorities in helping to promote a moderate side to Islam. And this in an almost rampant climate of fear.

Yes, some of those who welcomed all the government initiative with open arms did so because of their political allegiances. Others did it because they felt it was the right thing to do.

Whilst there was a third group who wanted to help portray a positive image of Islam.

The problems the community is now facing is that those very people who stood up to be counted and condemned the actions of the minority are beginning to feel alienated.

And when this happens there is a danger the whole community will be cut-off. And there is a bigger danger the authorities will have very few intelligent voices on their side.

Now, it is easy to blame the government for this situation. There have been cases where members of the government have been as guilty as those in the right-wing press of scare-mongering.

They have also been guilty of encouraging debate on ‘Muslim-related’ issues to earn a few hours of publicity.

But the problem lies with those people who do not wish to accept Muslims no matter what they do. And sadly we have a growing number of these.

We have come to a major crossroads in recent months. There has been conscious effort to ensure we accept there is a deep-rooted problem and even if we do accept this then it is WE who are too blame for the problem being there.

Unsurprisly then, many Muslims are beginning to feel as if the cannot win.

The comments of Sir Norman Bettison, the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police who says the community can do more in ‘identifying young people that they have concerns about’ can be translated quite simply.

But in essence what we are being told is too to judge the extremists ourselves and it is now our word which will used to incriminate them. Many things have been asked of the Muslim community in recent times but to ask it to do more in combating something it does not itself understand is quite objectionable.

It shows that whilst we do and will support the authorities, a part of us is beginning to feel it makes no difference if we do.