Letters to the Editor

SIR - Mr Khan's views echo those of a lot of Asian people who feel their residence in this country is being jeopardised by a vacuous minority. As he points out, Islam is a peaceful religion, and if adhered to copiously could lead to a satisfying and fulfilled life.

A greater knowledge of the religion of Islam is the only way forward for our disillusioned youth. We need to go back to our Islamic roots and concentrate on being Muslims first and foremost. As any true Muslim is aware, Islam teaches you to have love and respect for everyone, regardless of colour, race or nationality.

Islam cannot be held accountable for any "muslims" who behave in a manner that is contradictory to the teachings. The whole of Britain, and Bradford especially, would reap the rewards if all Muslims lived their lives according to the tenets of Islam.

Mr Khan's view that white people are intimidated when entering Asian areas could prove disastrous for the many Asian businesses that rely heavily on their white clientele. If this is true, we won't need a business professor from Oxford University to tell us which way the Bradford economy is going, or for that matter who will suffer economic hardship as a result.

M. Javaid, Abingdon Street, Bradford

SIR - Mr Khan's sentiments are admirable. No-one would disagree, and clearly the majority of people in Bradford are law abiding and just want to get on with living.

The social cost of population movement continues to be enormous and I see little evidence in this country of either preparing the host community to receive more migrants, economic or otherwise, or preparing those who come from vastly different backgrounds for England as it is today.

Where are the compulsory social history and language classes? Where are the talks on democracy and how government works? Where are the challenges and invitations to be involved locally and nationally?

If people want things to work in England then working together is unavoidable.

If on the other hand it's simply "please yourself" with neither guidance nor direction, it's hardly any wonder young men go off the rails, since in England they've all buckled under the social heat and neglect.

George Moffat (Team Rector, Manningham), St Paul's, Manningham.

SIR - I suggest Mr Khan is given a medal for being the first person to have the nerve to bring Bradford's racial issues into the open. The Government, the Council, the "community leaders" and the various race-relations groups can no longer keep their heads buried in the sand, hoping the problem will go away.

The Race Review Panel can pack its bags as all it needs to know is in this one letter. Mr Khan could then be appointed to head up a Real Review Panel. The CRE should immediately be disbanded, as this group of unelected mischief makers are more likely to create racial dissent than solve it.

Alternatively let Mr Khan head up that group as well - at least we might then have some honest statements being made and a serious attempt at creating racial harmony.

Now this has at last been brought into the open is it too much to hope that a) the police will search out and prosecute the trouble makers and b) there may be some honest, open discussion without the usual smokescreens of political correctness and accusations of racism.

M Wood, Westercroft View, Northowram

SIR - Mr Khan's letter was a breath of fresh air. It was encouraging to see that he was concerned about what the young Asians are doing to the people of Bradford and the community.

I came to this country 42 years ago from Ireland, and when I had my children I always wanted to know what they were doing and where they were going. I thank God that they turned out good adults and I am very proud of that.

Surely those thugs' parents know what they are up to? I am sure they do, so please, parents of those individuals, don't make racism an excuse.

It's about time the police started to do something about them and not have us people afraid to walk the streets alone without having to take their abuse and calling us white trash.

I am white, Irish and proud. I love my country of birth but I respect England where I have lived for 42 years, so they should respect where they live.

Mrs J Mullen, Barkerend Road, Bradford 3.

SIR - I thank Mr Khan for his brave letter to you on the subject of the Asian yob culture that seems to affect some areas of our once-respected city of Bradford.

Mr Khan's words must surely mirror the thoughts of many white Bradfordians who know what has been going on in Bradford for many years but in the main have kept their thoughts to themselves for fear of being labelled a racist.

If you had published a letter written in the same vein by a non-Asian I am sure that all the old clichs of racism would have been trotted out by the PC brigade and all the things stated by Mr Khan in relation to no-go areas, drugs, and the lack of police action would be denied.

Whenever racism crops up it is usually the white population that are branded as racist but there is the other side of the coin when, as in recent reports in your newspaper, whites are attacked by Asians.

J E Robson, Wellington Street, Laisterdyke.

SIR - I surely will not be in a minority in offering gratitude to Mr Khan for the way he expressed his views and feelings over recent troubles that have shamed our city.

At last someone has shown true integrity and the courage of his convictions in condemning mindless yobs who harm the racial harmony we could and should be able to proudly demonstrate to the rest of our beloved country.

Mr Khan does more to enhance our understanding of other ethnic minorities than all the claptrap from so-called experts who seem to leave us all lost for words and only seem to incite further problems.

Let's all pull together and show to these mindless yobs, of whatever class or creed, that we together can once again be proud in Bradford.

Let us show true understanding to our fellow man and live in racial harmony.

Mr Khan's letter was a jolt that was badly needed and long overdue and really appreciated by the people of every race.

G S Gill, Paley Road, East Bowling.