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Thatcher Condemns Muslim Leaders
LONDON, Oct 4 (News Agencies) - Great Britain's former prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, has accused Muslim leaders of not speaking out strongly enough against the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States, has sparked a new row in the U.K.
Britain's Muslim leaders reacted with dismay to her remarks and said they have the potential to fuel further racial tension.
In an interview with the The Times newspaper, Thatcher had said, "I have not heard enough condemnation from Muslim priests. The people who brought down those towers were Muslims, and Muslims must stand up and say that is not the way of Islam."
"Passengers on those planes were told that they were going to die and there were children on board. They must say that is disgraceful."
Her comments brought sharp criticism, not only from Muslims, but also from within her own Tory party.
Lord Heseltine, her former deputy prime minister, said the remarks "could only encourage" those with racist tendencies.
"Frankly, I find it difficult to find words to describe my horror," he said.
The Conservative Central Office issued a statement distancing itself from Thatcher's comments. It read in part, "What Lady Thatcher says is a matter for her. The leaders of the Muslim community expressed their utter condemnation of terrorist action during a meeting with Ian Duncan Smith and [shadow chief secretary to the Treasury] Oliver Letwin this week."
The Church of England also spoke out against the former Conservative prime minister.
"Many Muslim leaders across the country have been saying things opposing the action since the day it happened," said a spokeswoman for Lambeth Palace.
Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, leader of the U.K.'s Muslim Parliament, said: "I am very sad and surprised that she has said this sort of thing.
"Coming from a person like Baroness Thatcher, it is very hurtful. People need to know that out of over 6,000 people who died in this terrible incident, over 1,500 of them were Muslims."
He added: "The Muslim community has had to suffer twice - once when someone dear to them died, the second time when people say things like this.
"On the question of terrorism, we are all on the same side. We all want the people who did this to be identified, brought to trial and given whatever punishment," he said.
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