Muslims in Britain enjoy greater freedoms

"There is no contradiction in being British and being Muslim," he said in a statement on the first anniversary of the July 7 bomb blasts in London.

"And the Government and all British citizens share the same obligations, too: to engage, to be inclusive and to understand others."

"As we reflect on the tragic events of one year ago, we should remember that the acts of terrorism were attacks on us all," the high commissioner said, conveying condolences to the victims' families.

"People of many different faiths -- Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and Jews -- were killed or injured in the attacks: people from 19 different countries, including from Bangladesh."

These were indiscriminate attacks that perverted the name of a religion and sought to create mistrust and division, he said. "We owe it to the victims not to erect artificial barriers or to give in to ignorance, mistrust and fear."

Anwar Choudhury emphasised that "Our united response should be to recognise our common values -- peace, respect, tolerance and compassion and to strengthen them."

"Today, there is an obvious challenge for the majority of Muslims and it is simply to reclaim Islam from the extremists. It is to turn this destructive resurgence into a renaissance -- that enhances the lives of Muslims and enriches the wider human existence," he said.