Bells of discontentment rang high on Sunday night as Muslim community leaders spoke about the injustice of the raids in Forest Gate and warned that the worse is yet to come.

At the Bina Hall, Upper Tooting Road, members of the South London Muslim Forum and non-Muslims from the community spoke about the way Muslims have been victimised in the media, at the hands of the police and by the Government.

Despite an apology from the Metropolitan Police chief, Sir Ian Blair, for the raids on June 2, the Muslim community is still incensed by the whole affair.

Imam Mumtaz of Streatham Mosque, a guest speaker on the night, said: "Since 9/11 hundreds of Muslims have been arrested and dragged out of their homes in front of their families and small children. In the last raid in Forest Gate, a mother was dragged out and a man shot.

"The Muslim community is being demonised; each time there is an incident, the Muslims are made the bogeyman."

His comments received sustained applause.

The Imam went onto say that despite the feeling of fear in the current climate, Islam is a message of peace and most Muslims want just that.

He said: "People want to restore relations after 9/11, but the media will not allow it. Muslims are trying to integrate, build relations and live well with colleagues; the vast majority of these people are making a positive contribution to society."

Fellow guest speakers shared the Imam's opinions and also blamed the "draconian" terror laws, which were rushed through after 9/11 and 7/7, for creating the current polarised society.

Hugo Charlton of Campaign against Criminalising Communities (CACC) said: "The terrorism laws have all been railroaded through, leaving no time for proper debate. The laws are a Labour Government response to tabloid pressure and have been drafted far too widely."

Other key panel speakers on the night included Yvonne Ridley from Respect Party; Majid Nawaz, a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, and an Egyptian detainee.

Ms Ridley who embraced Islam in 2003, converting to what she called the "biggest and best family in the world" made the controversial point of blaming the injustices within the Muslim community as a reason for the current problems.

She said: "Algerians are a minority in the Muslim community, where racism persists.

"Nearly 20 Algerian Muslims have been held in various prisons without charge, they have been let down by the system, the establishment and our brothers and sisters in Islam."

Ms Ridley ended her presentation with the stark warning: "Do you really believe that Forest Gate was an isolated incident? Things are going to get much, much worse."

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