Dear Editor,

I refer to Mr Oliver Barclay's letter of 15/11/01 and others of similar ilk such as Kingley Harrop's [ please note: links provided by LOSP web site ] of 23/11/01. The letters quote a few lines from the Holy Quran and try to show that that great Scripture teaches discrimination against women and hostility to persons of other faiths.

May I point out that any scripture including the Holy Quran could never be understood unless you read and study the entire scripture. You cannot understand as great and as complex a scripture as the Holy Quran by perusing a few lines. Barclay's and others' efforts to discredit Islam are meaningless, futile and mischievous.

Since the September 11 attack on New York by allegedly Islamic Fundamen-talists, the flood-gates for unjust and baseless attacks on Islam have been opened. Barclay and others have joined this anti-Islamic bandwagon. But these attacks ignore the massive contributions to Civilisation Islam has made and continues to make and the hundreds of millions to whom it has brought, and continues to bring, peace, happiness and salvation.

The Barclays and others should look to our own country and ask themselves whether our Muslim brothers and sisters discriminate against women or teach hatred of others and they would realise

the nonsense of their anti-Islamic writings. Our Muslim brothers and sisters are no different from our Hindu brethren in those regards. So, lay off with these mischievous , false and unjustified attacks on Islam which are based on irrational anti-Islam prejudice.