Sir, I would like to draw your attention to the portrayal of Muslims in the media generally and to the way Mr. Sadat Badat is being constantly referred to in the media as a 'British Muslim'. The words 'British Muslim' appeared in the 'Metro' (free daily newspaper issued in the London area) on Friday 5 December 2003 and in Channel 4's news broadcast last night (4 December 2003).

Sir, I believe that whatever a person does is his or her own business and they should be subject to the law of the land. The portrayal of a person charged with a crime linked to terrorism as a Muslim misleads the public into thinking that this phenomenon is limited to Muslims only and is somehow a result of the religion of that particular person. The media, I believe, should not use religious tags to identify British people.

If the media insists on using the words British Muslim, then I would recommend that they use the words 'British Christian' with every murderer, rapist and peadophile with every person of that faith who is accused of those abhorrent crimes.

I am sure you will take this up with the newspaper and television station involved as part of your normal effort against the inaccurate portrayal of the people of Islamic faith in Britain.

The Muslim Council of Britain insists that the Foreign Office Minister, Denis MacShane apologises for calling on British Muslims to choose between the "British way" of political dialogue and non-violence and the "way of the terrorists". What is wrong with that?

I see no reason why the Muslim Council of Britain or Muslims in general should find this offensive. It seems to me that you already comply with the "British way" in that you are opposed to terrorism. You have chosen the "British way".

In response you state "British Muslims have consistently condemned all forms of terrorism and indiscriminate slaughter, whether perpetrated by individuals, groups or states.” This may generally be true but is is clearly not the case for all British Muslims. Richard Reid is a British Muslim and he nearly brought down a passenger jet. Recently there has been an arrest of a British Muslim in possesion of explosives. Surely you must be aware of other examples of British Muslims involved in terrorist plots.

You should face up to the fact that a proportion of your community supports the "way of the terrorists". I see no conflict between the MCB view on terrorism and Denis Macshane's. To say that he implied British Muslims sympathise with terrorist actions is an over-reaction and it would be more helpful to support him, because you claim to be opposed to terrorism.

Yours sincerely