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Text of report by Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias website on 19 May

A group of Muslims who was preparing violent acts was in Portugal to recruit young Portuguese Muslims for the jihad (commonly known as Holy War). This was revealed yesterday by Sheikh David Munir, during a debate on Radio Clube Portugues. The group was in the country a few years ago but "was not successful, having been rejected by the community", he said. The feeling of integration in the country was the main reason given for the unsuccessful recruitment.

The vice-president of the Security, Organized Crime and Terrorism Observatory (OSCOT), Jose Manuel Anes, who also participated in the radio debate, told Diario de Noticias that "there was a group who was preparing attacks and came to Portugal a few years ago. It could have included people from Indo-Pakistan and the Maghreb, who might have gone through England."

The Muslim community's leader in Lisbon, David Munir, stressed during the debate that "it is necessary to try to halt this recruitment. They did not succeed here, so for them Portugal is not ideal and has gone into the backburner." Integration has contributed to security: "No Muslim living here is interested in destroying part of their home. They feel they are a citizen like any other," Munir said.

"The recruitment and the subsequent rejection by the community made them leave Portugal," Jose Manuel Anes said, adding that the group was planning actions in Portugal.

For the two experts this reaction from the community is another guarantee that danger only comes from outside. "The Muslims who have come to Portugal, or who were born here, are peaceful. They have never, nor will they ever, commit any type of aggressive act," said the imam. The only risk "would have to come from outside, Morocco, Algeria or even Spain," Professor Anes added. Cooperation between intelligence services of several countries and the lack of warning signs lead Jose Manuel Anes to say that everything is under control.

In Portugal, the integration of the community is different from that in other countries, although much remains to be done, especially with regard to the high level of ignorance which still exists about the culture and religion of this community. "When people do not know something they fear it," said Anes.

The two experts invited the Portuguese to reflect on whether the fact that a Muslim lives in Europe or in Portugal, more precisely, makes him or her European or Portuguese. "The Muslims who live here are as Portuguese as others, but we can see that they still face obstacles relating to prejudice and marginalization," said David Munir.

The bringing together of communities occurs in social events between institutions such as the Palmela Muslin school and the Lisbon mosque. "In some countries non-Muslims are not allowed in because they are not pure or believers. As long as there is respect, everyone is welcome. There is nothing to hide," said David Munir

Source: Diario de Noticias website, Lisbon, in Portuguese 19 May 08

BBC Monitoring