Michael Adebolajo, one of last weeks suspects in the Woolwich murder declared that he was fighting for "Almighty Allah".

Mr Bakri Muhammed, who now lives in Lebanon, told The Independent: "I saw the film and we could see that he [the suspect] was being very courageous.

"Under Islam this can be justified, he was not targeting civilians, he was taking on a military man in an operation. To people around here [in the Middle East] he is a hero for what he has done."

I would like you all to come back to this quote by Bakri Muhammad at the end of this article.

Last week an off duty soldier was brutally murdered in the streets of Woolwich in London by 2 Muslim men of Nigerian descent. More alarming to most people was probably the way in which this innocent human being had been mercilessly butchered like a piece of meat in broad daylight in the middle of the street.
Hands bloodied, and weapons in hand, one of the suspects claimed he was fighting for Allah and that he did this for his brothers and sisters back in his "home land". This is not the first case of violence in the name of Allah.

Since last weeks attack the EDL, the English Defence League, a right wing nationalist group have demonstrated and protested across the streets of Britain to show their unrest towards Muslims and indeed last weeks attack.
EDL arrests have been made and numerous violent protests have taken place since last week.
Who are the EDL? What do they represent? Who do they represent? These are all points that I will come back to.

Since 9/11 and 7/7 it is fair to say muslims across the world and for the purpose of this article, in the UK have been in the spotlight frequently.
The words "muslim" and "terror" seem to go hand in hand. The term "islamic extremist" is also another term often used in the news.
So surely there is a link between Islam, the religion, and the violence that has occurred in recent years. Yes?

"the taking of one innocent life is like taking all of Mankind... and the saving of one life is like saving all of Mankind" - Holy Qur'an, 5:33.

This is a passage from the Quaran, which clearly says that by killing one person, its as if he has killed the whole of mankind.

"It may be that Allah will bring about love between you and those of them with whom you are now at enmity... Allah forbids you not respecting those who have not fought against you on account of your religion, and who have not driven you out from your homes, that you be kind to them and deal equitably with them; surely, Allah loves those who are equitable." - Holy Qur'an, 60:8-9

Here is another quote, which shows that one should be at peace even with the enemy and to live in peace.

I am a British born, muslim of Pakistani origin. Those two quotes from the Quaran are a representation of what Islam as a religion, is to me. To me, Islam is a peaceful religion. Surely with 1.8 billion muslims in the world, if Islam was a religion that taught terrorism, then every non muslim would be dead?

So if my religion of Islam is that of peace, then where is the cross over between my Islam and that of the murderers of Woolwich who claimed to kill in Allahs name?
The answer isn't the religion itself, it is the followers themselves as well as those who interpret sections and then teach hate against those vulnerable, confused and in a position to listen.
Asian muslims in Britain tend to have a childhood similar to mine. They will go to school, and at home they will live an asian style life, in order to keep a balance and not miss out on cultural values. When at school or college you are with your friends, living an English way of life and living the western lifestyle. When at home, you come back from school, eat dinner which mother would have prepared and most likely attend the mosque for prayers and Quaran teachings.
This upbringing, has a danger of leaving an individual confused and without identity. On one hand he is a British born who has white christian friends, who talks to girls, has a girlfriend, goes out with friends, drinks on the weekend. However on the other hand, hes also a Pakistani muslim who prays 5 times a day, and lives a totally different life at home. This confusion of identity can leave a person highly vulnerable. It can allow somebody to be weak, and be in a position where they will listen to anybody and everybody who will appear strong and sure. I myself have often questioned whether I am british first or a muslim.
It is when a young persons fragile state of mind is like this, that when radical and extremist preachers can brainwash those willing to listen. With their aggressive tone, and their call for Jihad, and alarming hate for the West, not for the purpose of religion and certainly not for Islam, but moreso for their own political agenda. it must be captivating for those with no identity. Unfortunately this is happening far too much. One of the suspects of the Woolwich murder was previously a devout Christian before being radicalised by an Imam who clearly thought the actions of Woolwich was a victory for this Jihad they were fighting for.
The word Jihad means struggle. In modern day terms I can best translate it as peaceful activism. Jihad has often been misinterpreted as "war". And most extremists often preach about war and jihad. However the Quaran uses another word for war. It uses the word qital and not jihad. The message is to spread Islam by living life and being a role model as it were. Not to engage in violence and oppress against the innocent. Islam does not teach that.

The English Defence League is a group that has gained a large amount of publicity this week. The group prides itself as being a right wing nationalist organisation, which is not racist, but it does want muslims kicked out of Britain. This group have protested across the UK this week. All week however they have pleaded to the media how they are not racist and how they are misunderstood. By technicality, wanting muslims out of the UK doesn't make one a racist, because technically Islam isn't a race. This is the explanation I've heard from EDL members. Ok, it may not be racist to want an entire group of people who follow a religion out of the country, but it certainly is an act of bigotry. It certainly is xenophobic. And it certainly is prejudiced.
Does that make it acceptable? Ofcourse not. The EDL were seen burning a Pakistani flag. Why would they burn the Pakistani flag? They aren't racist so they claim. Ironically Pakistan is an ally of Britain and the US. In fact Pakistan has suffered more casualties and fatalities than any other nation in the war on terror. So does this act of burning a Pakistan flag show a more deeper, more racially motivated agenda. It seems so. It has become apparent that some EDL supporters dont know the difference between Iraqi law and what law is in their own country. To see what im referring to please click this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjuNuqIev8M

This right wing fascist movement however is gaining more and more support, which is scary. A group that doesn't acknowledge that muslims can be black, white, bown and from any country in the world, how realistic that muslims are going to get kicked out of the UK. Does the EDL not realise that the NHS is heavily reliant on immigrant workers, who at large are from the Philippines, India, Pakistan and other South Asian countries, who are the majority muslim. To those EDL members who want all muslims out of the UK, were they not the same EDL supporters cheering on Amir Khan when he won silver in the 2004 olympic games and later won his first world title years later. Were these EDL supporters wanting all muslims out of the UK, not the same people who supported Mo Farah during last years incredible Olympic games. Do they not cheer, Demba Ba, Diaby, Al Habsi, Kon e, Sagna, Tiote, Dzeko, Ben Arfa, Ya Ya and Koulo Toure, Fellaini, and many more muslim footballers in the premiership.

In conclusion, I am a British born muslim with Pakistani origin. Terrorism has no place in society. Islam has no tolerance of terrorism. The two, though media would like to link them together, do not go hand in hand.
In a time where multiculturalism is the Britain of today, we as a country and a nation should work together in making the UK a better place. We as a country are always better together, than apart. We should also not be afraid of education. We should do our own research and learn for ourselves, rather than believe what we have been told, whether that be by the TV, a muslim fanatic or an EDL supporter you caught in the pub.

Coming back to that quote:
Michael Adebolajo, one of last weeks suspects in the Woolwich murder declared that he was fighting for "Almighty Allah".

Mr Bakri Muhammed, who now lives in Lebanon, told The Independent: "I saw the film and we could see that he [the suspect] was being very courageous.

"Under Islam this can be justified, he was not targeting civilians, he was taking on a military man in an operation. To people around here [in the Middle East] he is a hero for what he has done."

I would like to make it clear, that the vast majority of muslims would never condone last weeks actions. Moreover it was neither courageous nor is this behaviour justified in Islam. People who preach hate like Bakri Muhammad should be given life sentences with the key thrown away, for they are nothing but a cancer in society.

I will leave you with one thought.
I claim to be a vegetarian, and know that eating meat is against my principles. I then decide to eat a bacon sandwich. I still claim to be a vegetarian however. Can i speak on behalf of every other vegetarian? I claim that i can eat pork but not chicken. Does that make me a bad vegetarian, or is the whole concept of vegetarianism to blame for me eating a bacon sandwich?

Haseeb Ahmed