The Muslim Council of Britain has today released a statement to mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. It will be 10 years since the attacks this Sunday. Nearly three thousand people were killed on the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York, making the single most-deadly terrorist attack in the world. The attack was carried out by al Qaeda, a global Islamist terrorist organisation that was based in Afghanistan. The attacks prompted the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan, and have been a defining influence in most US foreign policy decisions since. It is hard to overstate the impact on the September 11 attacks on the world. In its statement, the Muslim Council said, “As Muslims we look back with sadness at what happened on September 11, 2001, it was undoubtedly an evil and criminal act of monstrous proportion.”  “As we express our sympathy and solidarity to the families of all those who have lost their lives and suffered in 9/11 and since, let us honour their memory by rejecting the divisive agendas and placing our faith on our cherished values of global justice, freedom, and equality. We must redouble our efforts to achieve enduring solidarity amongst our diverse communities.” The attack, which was committed by Islamist extremists, prompted a backlash against Muslims across the world. It also caused the rise in Islamophobia throughout Europe and the US. “A lot has changed in the last 10 years but one thing remains the same: ordinary Muslims have continued to live by the values that have always made them decent, hard-working and community-oriented citizens. These were the values shown at the recent riots, where Muslims joined with people of all faiths and none to restore normality in our communities.” Despite this, the Muslim Council suggested optimism, “It has been a sad decade but has ended with grounds for optimism.  It began with wars, more terror and even more lives lost. But it ended with Muslims in the Arab world demanding peace, democracy and the freedom to live their lives without fear and intimidation. The Arab Uprising was the best repudiation to the terrorists of 11 September 2001.” The Muslim Council of Britain is an umbrella organisation of over 500 national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools. It is the largest Muslim organization in Britain.