May I express my disgust and shame at the nature of the e-mails that you have been receiving and the behaviour of people in the community as a result of the action of a small number of yet to be properly identified people in the United States.

Those who behave in this way are clearly unable to distinguish the difference between terrorists and the vast majority of Muslims. I can only think this is based around racial prejudice and ignorance of their fellow human beings and of the Islamic faith, but this in no way excuses their behaviour.

I would like you to know that my family, and any of my colleagues and friends that I have discussed this with share my disgust and repugnance at their behaviour. I hope you are able to distinguish their behaviour as hopefully being reflective of a minority, and recognise that the unfortunately too often silent majority probably feel as we do. I really hope that this is the case, and will be working hard to communicate that to anyone I know and help top make it true.

I wish I could share this with all of the Muslim and Asian communities in Britain. My wife said she feels like going up to everyone she sees who she thinks may be Muslim or Asian and apologising to them. I just want to go out and find the bigots and ask them whether they will leave our country so the rest of us can enjoy the diversity and richness that our shared cultures have brought to Britain.

Please accept our apologies and intentions of support,

To all in the Muslim community of the UK and world wide: We in this household and many of our friends and colleagues would like to say to you all that we do not condemn the majority for the actions of the few extremists. We have the utmost respect for a people and faith that have enriched the world.

We believe that we share with your community the desire for peace and friendship and respect for the sanctity of human life.

There will no doubt be in the tension and uncertainty of the coming days and weeks incidents which will be committed by extremists of different creeds.

Let us hope that good sense will prevail and out of the horror and suffering that has occurred on both sides we will have justice and peace for all.

yours in hope

, I have been horrified to hear that reprisal attacks against innocent, peace-loving Muslim people with no links whatsoever to the terrorists who attacked America, have been going on, and that mosques and other Islamic centres have been receiving hate-mail.

What happened in America is unforgiveable, but nonetheless it had nothing to do with the overwhelming majority of ordinary, good, decent Muslims around the world.

Islam is a very great and very noble religion, and does not deserved to be tarnished by the evil handiwork of a few crazed extremists.

I fervently pray that sense will prevail in this business, that the U.S. will not wage war against poor, benighted Afghanistan, and that ordinary, moderate Muslims will be left alone to get on with their lives in peace and tolerance.

I am white, and a Gnostic Christian, but I in no way condone the hatred which is being poured out by brainless bigots in the West against Muslims. It is atrocious.

Let us all pray that the whole world sees sense, and pulls back from the brink of war.

God is great. . With all respect, Yours sincerely, a Gnostic Christian

Hi. First, I apologize on behalf of the more moronic and repulsive citizens of this country for the hate-mail you have received. Couple of things: 'we the British' are not only Jews, Christians or Muslims, but Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus, Wiccans, Taoists, atheists, agnostics, general seekers after truth. Attempts at sorting things out seem rather to be limited to representatives of the three monotheisms, leaving the rest of us out. I think we all have to talk to each other to make things right.

Having read some of the e-mails you have received, I am truly shocked. I cannot believe that people can still not tell the difference between the peaceful Muslims that you represent and the fundamentalists who perpetrate horrendous acts of terrorism. Hitler was a Christian, but that does not mean that all Christians are like him. Equally, not all Muslims are like bin Laden and his type (regardless of whether it is proved that he was behind the recent attacks, it is certain that he has committed terrorist acts).

As a white English woman, I offer my support.