Britain’s democratic way of life must stand firm against terrorist violence
SIR – Immediately after the terror attack at London Bridge, there were calls for the general election to be postponed. To have done this would have been to give in to terrorism.
No terrorist act should be rewarded with influence over our democratic process. There is a difference between suspending campaigning as a mark of respect for the victims and giving in to terrorism.
Something that each of us can do, to show the terrorists and their supporters that they shall not prevail, is to go out and vote on Thursday. When people do this, democracy is strengthened and terrorism neutered.
Exeter, Devon
SIR – Obsessive publicity is one of the things the terrorists want. Disrupting our election would be beyond their dreams.
Let us have the facts, horror, grief, solidarity, determination. Then business as usual.
Julia and Oliver Miles
Oxford
SIR – In view of the escalating terrorist threat to this country, would it not be appropriate for our Christian leaders to call for a national day of prayer?
London SE16
SIR – What happened on Saturday was an act of barbarism at the heart of our beautiful, bustling capital.
It took place during Ramadan – a time when Muslims devote themselves to prayer, worship and contemplation of the divine. Traditionally, the holy month is split into three. The first 10 days are said to be for mercy, the second for forgiveness and the third for salvation.
What we saw in London bore no traces of mercy or of godliness. It was an act of senseless violence by men whose moral compasses were so shattered, their hearts so hardened, that they took the lives of fellow men.
As an Ahmadi Muslim, it is my firm belief that the Koran is a book that enshrines the sanctity of human life above all. It states: “Whosoever takes a life, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whosoever saves a life, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind.”
In times of darkness, the values of compassion and mercy are our polestar. They guide us on a path of love and peace that we must tread ever more firmly. As William Blake so aptly put it: “Where Mercy, Love and Pity dwell,/ There God is dwelling too.”
St Neots, Huntingdonshire
SIR – We have to stop giving these people any sense of moral, religious or political credence by calling them Islamic terrorists.
They are ungodly, uncaring, callous, cowardly, murderous monsters who, by their actions, have turned their backs on and insulted their God, Prophet and religion – as do those who support them.
Edinburgh
SIR – The time has come for those in denial about the link between the Muslim religion and terror attacks to admit defeat.
We cannot permit primitive extremists, who draw their inspiration from this faith, to continue to slaughter our children in the streets. We must intern all those who have returned from fighting for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), so that the poison of terrorism does not spread. There must be regulation of teaching in mosques. Sharia courts must be outlawed. There can be only one law of the land.
There is a point, sadly, at which liberal instincts must bow to brutal reality. That point has arrived. No more innocents should be sacrificed on the altar of tolerance. Those wishing to share this island with us must accept our way of life, and their children must be educated to do so.
While only a small minority of Muslims commit or approve of these heinous crimes – and however much the peaceful majority of Muslims may regret them – there can be no doubt that it is from within Muslim culture that this violence is spreading. Steps must now be taken to stop it.
London W8
SIR – Now we know how many deaths it takes for a British prime minister to feel that “enough is enough”.
I doubt we can expect a sea change. Clearly the situation won’t improve as long as politicians remain more concerned about offending community sensibilities than they are about the deaths of innocents.
Beckenham, Kent
SIR – Brian Thornton (Letters, June 4) refers to Muslims’ difficulty in “grassing” on their acquaintances.
This reminds me of the BBC’S interview with a prominent Muslim after a recent attack. That worthy, when asked why the police had difficulty in getting information from Muslims, replied that people were fearful it would cause divisions in what he called “our community”.
He meant “my” community. Until the nut of separateness is cracked, progress will remain difficult.
Seaford, East Sussex
SIR – Muslims are stakeholders in the safety of this country. They should never be tarred with the brush of terrorism, and should not be discriminated against or spied on.
Theresa May once asked universities and other institutions to spy on Muslims. This is not a sensible way of depriving terrorists of the oxygen they require.
The next government has an uphill struggle to ensure justice, human rights, inclusiveness and compassion. Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob
London NW2
SIR – If we are going to win the “war” against jihadist terrorism, it is important not to blame ourselves or try to “understand” why they hate us.
Islamic totalitarianism has been at war with the freedom, individualism and secularism of the West for decades. These groups may fight each other, but their essential enemy is anyone who does not submit to their dogma. Our values of individual life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are the opposite of their “values” of submission, sacrifice and death. When terrorists reject reason and claim the supernatural as their means of knowledge, no persuasion or understanding is possible.
DS A Murray
Dorking, Surrey
SIR – I understand that one of the incitements to murder infidels is the apparent guarantee of an immediate place in paradise.
So it would be helpful if this distortion of true Islamic teaching was strongly, repeatedly and publicly denied by Muslim leaders.
Langley, Hertfordshire
SIR – There is no defence against murderous, low-tech attacks by radicalised British citizens.
There is, however, plenty of scope for ensuring that they cannot be planned or coordinated via social media. To do this, our security services must have access to all internet and phone traffic.
If this means changing British law to force IT companies to allow such access then I, for one, would vote for any party committed to doing this.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire
SIR – Had we revoked the passports of so-called British citizens who went to fight for Isil, not only would we have greatly reduced the possibility of attacks in this country, but the security forces could have devoted much more time and attention to suspects with a lower profile.
The failure of the politically correct authorities to act in an appropriate manner is shocking.
London SW1
SIR – Last year, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said terrorist attacks were “part and parcel of being in a big city… major cities around the world have got to be prepared for these sorts of things”.
Is it time we prepared, Israeli-style, with terrorist-proof safe rooms in every public facility?
Banstead, Surrey
SIR – The threat, real or otherwise, of copycat terrorist attacks on London’s bridges is set to continue.
It would therefore be a reassuring initiative to place armed police officers at these vulnerable locations while the current state of emergency continues.
London SW20
SIR – I hope the police officers who shot the London Bridge attackers will not have to face the law courts, but rather be decorated for their bravery.
London NW1