The Observer has just received another leaked letter. This one shows—a year before the London bombings—just how seriously the British Foreign Office regarded the effects of Britain's invasion of Iraq on its Muslim community, an effect that Prime Minister Tony Blair insists does not exist.

The Observer has placed an image of the document online, which I've transcribed so that its content may be passed along by the search engines. There was a "strategy document" enclosed with the letter that was also obtained by the paper. The Observer has not put it online, but Martin Bright discusses its contents.

[Note: The boldface, except in the headings, is mine.]

Foreign & Commonwealth Office [letterhead]

Sir Andrew Turnbull KCB CVO
Cabinet Office
70 Whitehall
LONDON
SW1A 2AS

18 May 2004

Dear Andrew,

RELATIONS WITH THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY

Thank you for sight of the letter to John Gieve on relations with the Muslim community. John has already sent you and copy addressees the joint FCO/HO paper on Young Muslims and Extremism. As John has indicated, the paper draws on a range of sources and contains a comprehensive work programme. Both Mike O'Brien and Fiona Mactaggart have been working closely on the paper with officials, which now awaits comments from the respective Secretaries of State.

Other colleagues have flagged up some of the potential underlying causes of extremism that can affect the Muslim community, such as discrimination, disadvantage and exclusion. But another recurring theme is the issue of British foreign policy, especially in the context of the Middle East Peace Process and Iraq.

Experience of both Ministers and officials working in this area suggests that the issue of British foreign policy and the perception of its negative effect on Muslims globally plays a significant role in creating a feeling of anger and impotence amongst especially the younger generation of British Muslims. The concept of the "Ummah", i.e. that the Believers are one "nation", has led to HMG's [Her Majesty's Government] policies towards the Muslim world having a very personal resonance for young British Muslims, many of whom are taking on the burden both of the perceived injustices and of the responsibility of putting them right, but without the legitimate tools to do so.

This seems to be a key driver behind recruitment by extremist organizations (e.g. recruitment drives by groups such as Hizb-ut-Tahrir and al Muhajiroon). The FCO has a relevant and crucial role to play in the wider context of engagement with British Muslims on policy issues, and more broadly, in convincing young Muslims that they have a legitimate and credible voice, including on foreign policy issues, through an active participation in the democratic process.

I attach the FCO's Strategy on 'building bridges with mainstream Islam', which outlines our approach to reaching out to the British Muslim community. Our key messages are that we are focused on Muslim concerns, we are actively working on solutions, we are receptive to new ideas and that we are fully engaged with the Muslim communities.

Our first task has been to get people to talk to us. Many mainstream organisations now feel more comfortable in engaging with us, and any previous stigma in doing so has been lessened. For example, we have managed to build working relationships with organisations that have previously been critical of us or have even declined to attend meetings. These include the Islamic Society of Britain, Q News, Young Muslims UK, Islamic Forum Europe, etc. The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) have even agreed to a public partnership with the FCO on our 'Muslims in Britain' booklet/CD (also supported by the Home Office).

Other work streams have included:

(a) Specialist advisers
We have established in the FCO a Partnerships and Networks Development Unit to strengthen and build upon the FCO's relationship and dialogue with UK civil society. One of the key priorities of this new unit is strengthening the relationship with, and consultation of, the Muslim community. We have employed a specialist to assist us in this.

(b) British Hajj delegation
Every year, in partnership with the British Muslim community, we send out a British Hajj delegation of eight doctors and consular staff to Saudi Arabia, to provide basic assistance for the approx. 20,000 British Hajjis who make the pilgrimage. We are the only Western government to send out a delegation of this nature.

(c) British Muslim delegations to the Islamic world
We are working to strengthen the links between the British Muslim community and many other countries in the Islamic world, e.g. through visits by British Muslim Parliamentarians and community leaders to Indonesia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Morocco and Tunisia. In Indonesia, for example, a number of Muslim parliamentarians, visited that country last year to promote interfaith dialogue; a delegation of UK Muslim Councillors also visited Indonesia to share their experience of Islam in the UK. Most recently, the president of a British Muslim student organisation delivered the keynote address in Indonesia, to an audience of high profile figures from across the Islamic world. We have further British Muslim delegations planned to Malaysia, Kenya and possibly Libya.

In return, we have received a number of delegations from countries to discuss the role of British Muslims in society, including from Iran and the director of the Grand Mosque in Lyon, the Mufti of Singapore amongst many others.

(d) Islamic Media Unit √We use both print and broadcast media, aiming to build networks of young people, to engage a wider spread of UK and overseas communities and to challenge stereotypes. As part of this, we have established in the Foreign Office a specialist Islamic Media Unit to work with English language and foreign language media outlets to improve our ability to communicate with Muslim communities at home and overseas.

(e) Ministerial briefings for Muslim representatives
We have regular ministerial briefings for key Muslim representatives, to ensure that we are in tune with the concerns with the communities. These are closed meetings, where Mike O'Brien has had a frank and open discussion with the various representatives.

(f) Ministerial Outreach to regions
This is one of the most important components of our engagement with both the Muslim community, as well as wider BME communities. Ministers visit grassroots organisations in different UK cities, to engage with people who don't normally have access to government Ministers, in community centres, women's organisations, youth groups, etc.

(g) Outreach to Muslim youth
Both Mike O'Briend and Fiona Mactaggart recently met with the leadership of the Union of Muslim Students, and have plans for a series of meetings with young people across the regions.

(h) Recognition of Muslim contribution
We sponsor the 'Muslim News Awards of Excellence', which are awarded every year to British Muslims who have made outstanding contributions to different fields.

(i) Receptions to mark religious festivals
The FCO has been hosting Eid receptions for the Muslim community for a number of years (recently these have been hosted jointly with the Home Office).

(j) Islam Awareness and diversity course for FCO staff
We also run an Islam awareness and diversity course for our diplomatic staff, so they are aware of the basics of the faith when posted to the Islamic world.

(k) Islam & Europe
The concept of 'European Islam' seems to be increasing in importance among the younger generation of British Muslims. As a result it is essential that we are seen to be engaging on this level of Muslim identity from an early stage, especially in the context of possible accession of Turkey. We have agreed to co-host with the Islamic Foundation a seminar on Islam and Europe in the early autumn.

The above actions are in line with wider HMG engagement with the Islamic world. However, much still needs to be done, especially in the area of engaging young Muslims and looking at the causes of disaffection. The FCO/Home Office paper seeks to address this.

I am copying my letter to Mavis MacDonald, David Normington, Robin Young, Richard Mottram, David Omand, John Gieve, Howell James, Nick Macpherson, Helen Edwards, Joe Montgomery, Michael Richardson and Nigel Sheinwald.

Yours ever,

Michael Jay
[Foreign Office permanent under-secretary]

Enc

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