BRITAIN’S top Muslim last night praised Gordon Brown and demanded MPs back new laws to hold terror suspects.
Khurshid Ahmed, chairman of the British Muslim Forum, the UK’s largest representative Muslim organisation, called for 42 days’ detention without charge.
He said it was vital to protect the nation.
Mr Ahmed applauded the PM for also insisting on safeguards to protect innocent people who are held.
And he pointed out that Britain’s Muslims were every bit as likely as anyone else to be bombing victims. Mr Ahmed said: “I am delighted the Government has listened to the concerns we expressed.
“I am reassured safeguards proposed go a long way in protecting civil liberties.
“As we saw in the July 7 attacks, Muslims are just as likely to be victims of plots as any other British people.
Menace
“We have a shared interest in the police and security services ensuring our protection.
“The Muslim community will do all it can to protect our society and our values.”
Unwell MPs will be ordered off their sickbeds to attend tomorrow’s crunch Commons terror vote as the Government tries to crush a rebellion by up to 50 MPs. Ministers have dubbed the showdown a “hospital vote”, ensuring every Labour MP, sick or healthy, is there.
Mr Brown refuses to back down, even though the revolt may defeat him.
Party organisers fear the PM may not win despite his personal arm-twisting. One minister said: “We are going to throw everything at this.”
A range of safeguards is promised to ensure no one innocent is held illegally.
Mr Brown has been warned the measure will be rejected by the Lords even if he wins tomorrow’s vote.
But his personal rating in an opinion poll yesterday fell to 3.9 out of 10, the first leader of any party to drop below four since the rankings began five years ago.
And the Tories’ overall lead in the Populus survey nearly doubled to 20 points.
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