SIR - As ever I am grateful to the T&A for giving Muslims like myself an opportunity to express their views.

I have said again and again, this consideration and freedom is not always available to people in many Muslim countries and I attach great value to this.

Having said that I am somewhat saddened by the shallowness of the arguments presented by Mr Whiteside (T&A, September 26) and Mr Drake (T&A, September 27) in response to the In My View column "Can faiths rebuild broken bridges" (T&A, September 19).

It is time we had a mature debate about Islam and Muslim culture/history. There is no need to hide behind the questionable intentions of dodgy cartoonists or fictional authors interested in lining their pockets through controversy.

It's also time for us to have a mature debate about Western foreign policy, especially in the Middle East.

There is much that is wrong with the Muslim world and perhaps it is Divine Will' Muslims are going through the current humiliation and trauma, but if there is a genuine desire in the West to understand Islam and curb the radicalisation of young Muslims, let us have a civilised and mature debate.

Dr Mohammed Iqbal, Grasleigh Way, Allerton, Bradford