Do what we say or our young men may try to kill you

Does that sound like blackmail ? Does to me.

A letter written in a cloak of reassuring language is doing the rounds in the national press and the BBC today. This idea that foreign policy must change or a small minority of out citizens will try and kill us is a knife pointed at the heart of our democracy and freedom (IMHO). I recognise there are other, more benign, ways of reading this letter. But I think my interpretation is cause for concern. As ever we could all be wrong, but we are required to take a view and a position - or to accept other people will do it for us.

Here is the letter - in green the letter printed today in the press.

Prime Minister, As British Muslims we urge you to do more to fight against all those who target civilians with violence, whenever and wherever that happens.

It is our view that current British government policy risks putting civilians at increased risk both in the UK and abroad.

To combat terror the government has focused extensively on domestic legislation. While some of this will have an impact, the government must not ignore the role of its foreign policy.

The debacle of Iraq and now the failure to do more to secure an immediate end to the attacks on civilians in the Middle East not only increases the risk to ordinary people in that region, it is also ammunition to extremists who threaten us all.

Attacking civilians is never justified. This message is a global one. We urge the Prime Minister to redouble his efforts to tackle terror and extremism and change our foreign policy to show the world that we value the lives of civilians wherever they live and whatever their religion.

Such a move would make us all safer.

Signed by three Muslim MPs, three peers and 38 groups, including the Muslim Council of Britain.

Again they don't ask for help with Darfur or to stop torture and medieval execution of people in Iran. For religious freedom in Saudi Arabia. Just do what you are told Dhimmi or it will be worse for you.