I am a "white" British citizen living in London, with no fixed religion. I say that only so you know what "section" of the community this message of support is coming from. As you know, London is a very multicultural society and I am very proud and privileged to live here. Watching the news programmes over the last few days, I felt the need to tell you that you have the support and love of all your rightminded fellow countrymen as this time. There will be stupid, reactionary people who will lash out unthinkingly at the muslim community at this time, but I sincerely hope that these will be few and will be shouted down by the rest of us. We have already seen senseless riots in Oldham, Burnley and Bradford over the last few months, and this seeming hatred has sickened me to my core. I have lived in Bradford, my brother has lived in Burnley, and we have family in Oldham, so I am acutely aware of the sensitivity of the muslim community in those towns. At this time, especially, we need to come together to bind the whole community together for the future. Please be assured that there is plenty of goodwill out here to counteract the mindless bigotry which I am shamed to have to admit does exist in this country. Let's hope we will be successful in eradicating it soon. It was very heartening to see representatives of all the major religions at the rememberance service at St Pauls on Friday.

I had to write and say that I am sorry that you are receiving such disgusting hate mail from people in the UK. I also know that there are many, many more people that care for and respect Islam and our Muslim brothers and sisters in this country and throughout the world.

Please do not let those idiots get to you.

We are disturbed by bthe thoughtless condemnation of all Islam and Muslims, as if the whole of a culture could be responsible for, or support, the evil acts which killed thousands of by-standers. Our thoughts are with you.

I wish to join with all fair and reasonable people to say that I do not equate Islam with terrorism. I wish to extend the hand of friendship to all people of every faith (and those of no faith) who believe that all mankind is one and we must all love and support each other. There are no Muslims that I know of where I live, or I would go out right now and show them the hand of friendship and respect. I shall do everything I can to stop anyone I know from believing that what happened in the USA last Tuesday has anything to do with the religion of Islam.

I understand that you have received some abusive e-mail since Tuesday's terrible events... for which as an indiginous Englishman, I apologise... for there is no excuse for it.

However, I believe that much of this uneducated reaction is based on fear and ignorance... and I believe that Muslims themselves could do a lot to alleviate this situation.

If as has been stated, attacks on innocents and indeed suicide itself... is against the fundamental teaching of Islam... and if as is often publicized... Muslims do not have an agenda to inflict their religious views on others... then I believe it would do a great deal of good... if the world authority... be it an individual, or an International Council... publicly denounced these terrorists... not following an horrendous event, such as occured in New York... but as a matter of course...

If you have a proceedure... similar to that used in the Roman Catholic church.. i.e. excommunication... in which non-conformists are isolated and denied access to their faith.... Then surely this would be the most powerful weapon to use against them... and prevent the world from possibly destrying itself...

I would be interested in your reaction to this suggestion.