MacShane apologises to Muslim leaders
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Denis Macshane apologised yesterday for his challenge to Muslims to choose between the "British way" and the terrorist way.
The Foreign Office minister had faced criticism for calling on Muslim leaders to condemn terrorist acts more clearly.
His planned remarks had been distributed to a meeting in his constituency in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, but he toned down the passage in the face of anger from the Muslim community.
Mr MacShane apologised in an article for his local paper The Sheffield Star, for any hurt caused. He wrote: "In that report, I acknowledged that the Muslim community were as appalled as any other at the terrible terrorist atrocity in Istanbul 10 days ago.
"I accept that I could have chosen some of my words more carefully and I apologise to anyone who felt that I suggested that British Muslims sympathise with such terrorist actions. That was certainly not my intent."
He said he welcomed the condemnation, locally and nationally, by Muslims of recent terrorist atrocities. "None of us should show sympathy, support or solidarity with the use of terrorist actions to achieve political ends," he said.
"We must all work together to end the scourge of terrorism and make sure Britain is freed from the ideologies leading to young men going off to kill themselves."
But Jahangir Akhtar, a Labour councillor in Rotheram, said the minister's "wishy-washy" words had not gone far enough to placate Muslims whose patriotism had been called into question.
He said he would talk to colleagues on the town councils and in the Muslim community over whether to take the matter further.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments