The Mayor of London today condemned what he described as a 'witch-hunt' of the mainstream representative body of British Muslims, saying that attempts to paint them as extremists would damage community relations and hinder the fight against terrorism, which requires the support of all communities. The Muslim Council of Britain has come under fire this week in several newspapers in the run-up to a Panorama documentary this coming weekend.

But the mayor said the MCB had more than four hundred affiliates making it 'by far the most representative mainstream Muslim organisation in Britain' and he said their 'weight and authority make them an essential part of our country's political life.'

In his statement the Mayor said: 'The Muslim Council of Britain is by far the most representative mainstream Muslim organisation in Britain - with more than four hundred affiliates reflecting the diversity of Britain's Muslim communities.

'The MCB has been unwavering in urging Muslims to help the police find anyone associated with terrorist attacks. In the past its leadership went to Iraq to try to help free British hostages.

'Those conducting what I consider a witch-hunt against the MCB are doing great harm to the fight against terrorism. They must ask themselves in what way they are helping the fight against terrorism by waging a campaign of demonisation and spin against this representative body of British Muslim organisations.

'As Mayor of London I have worked with the MCB for nearly five years and I will continue to do so because their weight and authority make them an essential part of our country's political life.'

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