Sir, Professor Henry Laycock (letter, March 17) suggests a brilliance by the planners of the Madrid massacre in influencing the elections. I don’t find this credible. Terrorists are not noted for foreseeing the results of their carnage; evidence the world revulsion of both Muslims and Christians over 9/11 (unfortunately not capitalised on). Al-Qaeda lost its organised base in Afghanistan with many key henchmen killed plus a severe restriction of help from Saudi Arabia. Politically, it shot itself in the foot.

Furthermore, to equate the nuclear bombing of Japan with the present terrorism is grotesque. The bombing of Hiroshima and, after no response, Nagasaki, were in a war in which the casualties in Okinawa made the outcome of invasion doubtful to say the least.

Modern terrorism is not comparable to the Second World War.

Yours,
JOHN BOLTON,
102 Holders Hill Road,
Hendon, NW4 1LL.
johnfredabolton@ntlworld.com
March 18.

From Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid

Sir, Mr P. W. Giles says (letter, March 18) that he has not been able to find in any of the broadsheets any senior British Muslim representatives condemning the horrors of Madrid. On the day of the bombings, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) released a press release, part of which read:

The Muslim Council of Britain condemns these atrocities totally and unequivocally. The hearts of Muslims and all peoples of conscience go out to families of those whose loved ones have been murdered and those who have been wounded in these appalling atrocities. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Spanish people at this time of shock and grief. The MCB also condemns the use of the term “Islamic terrorists” (in the media) to describe these clearly evil people who carried out these heinous crimes. (We) hope that the organisers and perpetrators of these monumental crimes against humanity will soon be identified and held to account.

You have since reported (March 19) that the MCB is “urgently consulting its members and mosques on proposals for a rally to underline Muslim condemnation of the Madrid bombings and al-Qaeda violence”.

Yours sincerely,
ABDULJALIL SAJID,
(Chairman),
Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony UK,
8 Caburn Road,
Hove, East Sussex BN3 6EF.
sajid@imamsajid.com
March 19.

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