I suspect, regardless of what I say in this letter, people like Dan Shaw, who wrote in last Tuesday’s DAILY NATION, have already made up their minds, as he puts it, “that all the terrorists in the world today are Muslims”.

I am convinced that presented with the evidence more people throughout history have been killed in violent acts not at the hands of Muslims but of people of other creeds, Mr Shaw would still hold the view all Muslims are only about violence and hatred.

Notwithstanding the hundreds of thousands of Muslims throughout the world who are decent, law-abiding citizens contributing positively to the society in which they live, I am sure Mr Shaw would still judge the faith on the actions of a minority.

But I am not at liberty to do the same. I can’t judge an entire faith on a misguided few acting in the name of that faith.

I can’t mock another person’s beliefs, nor can I make fun at, insult, degrade or show disgust towards another’s belief even though such a person might claim a right to do that to me.

I however believe I have a right to defend my honour and dignity and those of my beliefs. While others may choose other courses of action when their faith is ridiculed, allow me to express my opposition.

Not through violence, as some may choose, which most Muslims and I would not agree with, but through a concerted effort to bring an end to a practice that allows someone to insult, denigrate and ridicule other beliefs.

Mr Shaw is totally wrong; nowhere in Islam is Christianity and Judaism referred to as the “Big Satan and Small Satan”. In fact these two faiths are prominently mentioned in the Holy Quran as the “people of the book”, recognizing the shared history of these three Abrahamic faiths and the many commonalities.

It is wrong to attack the embassies of sovereign nations, and it is wrong to target innocent people to harm or kill them. It is equally wrong to insult, malign, and to make a mockery of a faith, its prophets and followers.

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