Media uncovers an unsavoury Muslim blog; government reacts...

There is little surprise that a civil servant, President of the Civil Service Islamic Society and an active member of the official Muslim community, has been caught writing extremist views on his weblog, Between the Lines. It does not appear to have been a very popular weblog, but did allow the civil servant to publicise and demonstrate some sympathy with statements that we associate with jihadist views. These views include praising the deaths of British soldiers and perceiving them to be occupiers in nations that form part of the historical span of Islamic civilisation.

Mr Ali, president of the Civil Service Islamic Society, attacked the British government and Foreign Secretary David Miliband over what he sees as support for Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians.

He went on to describe moderate Muslims engaging with the Government as 'self-serving vultures, feeding on the dead flesh of the Palestinians'.

The views expressed are popular amongst British Muslims and the civil servant has been suspended for activities that do appear to contravene the Civil Service Code. There is also a question in regard to the surprise with which these views were received, and one wonders if there is a wider issue of security here. Whilst this particular civil servant may just hold some unsavoury views, what safeguards are in place to ensure that committed jihadists cannot hold positions of authority and compromise the safety of the United Kingdom. One wishes that this would be raised in Parliament, as I suspect New Labour prizes political correctness above security.