Islam does not allow this." Alive in many minds is the image of Shahzad Tanweer's uncle, Bashir Ahmad, his face etched with grief, stress and weariness, reading out a statement on Wednesday apologising for his nephew's role in the bombings. I'm in sorrow." This sadness is, for the vast majority, the dominant feeling. Muslim leaders have, over the past week, effectively repudiated the young bombers as Muslims - rejecting any claim their actions are authorised by the Koran. If you come and kill our innocents, we will kill yours." Arif, briefly silenced by this, tried to calm his friend down He replied: "But I would be killing innocent Muslims That's against Islam This was my friend of 18 years What happens in Iraq, it doesn't give him the right You're in anger.
Khalid came back at him, arguing "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth ". And, he claimed, the Koran's requirement for a Muslim to openly declare war on an enemy has already been met by the Islamist terrorists - the people known among Muslims as "jihadis" "They've given a warning - a notice of war. It's any human - that's what the Koran says." Judging by the nods of onlookers, he won that point Arif seemed to win most points Few seem persuaded by Khalid's angry rhetoric. Islam says to me I have a duty to help any Muslim who is in need." But that's wrong, replied Arif "It's not any Muslim. There's people stood behind them telling them what the truth is God allowed this to happen, that's what I believe. They all search for a "guiding hand", the indoctrinator who beguiled the bombers into killing London commuters.
News of an Egyptian link or the role of an outsider, the Jamaican convert Germaine Lindsay, are seized on " There was a bigger player behind them," he insists "No, our kid No," said Khalid, his pale Kashmiri face colouring "There was nobody stood behind them, brainwashing them. Two wrongs just don't make a right." Khalid's claims alarmed Arif. Like most of Beeston's Muslim residents, he doesn't accept that Iraq is a justification for violent revenge. You speak to any of the boys around here: it preys on your mind, it breeds frustration, and it breeds anger." His well-built friend, Arif, gently retorted: "It doesn't breed anything - that's the wrong word. His hands stabbing the air for emphasis, Khalid was emphatic. "The simple thing is: if they hadn't gone into Iraq, none of this would have happened," he said "They've gone into Iraq as a business, to make money.
