Today, I had the privilege of attending what I believe was a profoundly important occasion - the launch of the Quilliam Foundation. At long last, the voices of moderation within Islam - led by ex-Islamists such as Ed Husain and Maajad Nawaz - have united, even if only in embryonic form, against extremism and Islamism. The words of peace, tolerance and common sense echoed around the room - from speakers as diverse as Sheikhs and Imams from different parts of the world, Jemima Khan, and Timothy Garton-Ash. 7/7 survivor Rachel North was perhaps the most moving speaker.
Some, I anticipate, will critique the event as superficial. Critics will say there were too many speakers making too many easy platititudes. But that is unfair. A launch by nature is unlikely to provide space for great substance. A launch is inevitably a public awareness exercise. The test will be in the substance to come - and I have every hope that it will indeed come. Already there are serious policy proposals put forward in the launch publication of Quilliam.
There will undoubtedly be people who will question the theology of those involved. There will be self-appointed Muslim commentators, who adopt a literalist or Islamist approach, who will be incensed. And there will be non-Muslims who will be sceptical. But as a Christian who is profoundly and deeply concerned about the rise of Islamism - both here at home, and from what I witness in places like Pakistan, one of the countries I work on - I do not believe ultimately that it is my place to comment on what is or is not the right interpretation of Islam according to Islamic theology. I am still in nursery school when it comes to studying Islam. What I can comment on is the reality of life in the Islamic world - the human rights violations which people face, for example, in Pakistan under the blasphemy laws, which affect all people, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. And I can comment on the continuing danger posed to the values we hold dear - freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of expression - by Islamists here at home. And so all I can say is that all of us who cherish those values should engage with the Quilliam Foundation and the people behind it. David Cameron and the Conservative Party should talk, privately at first if necessary, with people like Ed Husain and Maajad Nawaz, step up their engagement with these issues, and give the voices of moderation - and especially the brave ex-Islamists who have got out and are speaking out - all the support we possibly can.
