In a short film recorded for the BBC earlier this year, journalist Allan Hennessy tried to explain why some British-born Muslims resort to terrorism. He quoted the 19th century abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass:

“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class of society is made to feel society is an organised conspiracy to degrade, oppress, and rob, neither persons nor property will be safe.”

Hennessy, a Muslim who grew up on the same estate as the British-born terrorist Mohammed Emwazi, added: “Douglass may have been a 19th century abolitionist but he could have been writing about this very 21st century council estate.”

No, he couldn’t.

But to emphasise just how similar were the plights of 21st century British Muslims and black slaves in pre-Civil War America, Hennessy added: “I’m sick and tired of people giving me funny looks on the Circle Line when I’m just out to have a drink with my friends.”

His argument is summed up in his final words to camera: “British politicians need to wise up to the reality of life for Muslims in the UK or we can expect to see many more ‘new’ Jihadi Johns.”