The good work achieved across Keighley to cement relationships between different faiths should be continued and extended to other areas.

That was the view taken away from a meeting of religious leaders -- at the Sangat Centre last Thursday -- arranged to discuss the escalating international terrorist situation.

Religious leaders from the Christian and Muslim faiths were joined by the Bishop of Bradford, the Right Rev David James, and Dr Sajid-ur-Rehman, a leading international scholar from Islamabad.

Khadim Hussain, from the Sangat Centre, said the presence of two leading authorities was advantageous.

Among the discussions were the transparency needed from all faiths and that the media trial of Islam was unjust.

Mr Hussain said: "The major concern is the Islamaphobia effect. There is a media trial of Muslims and it is incorrect. Only a handful of Muslims are using religion wrongly. Most of the Muslims in Britain are living in peace and harmony and are law-abiding citizens."

Mr Hussain said the work to bring the different faiths together in Keighley should be continued.

He highlighted a conference held last year to build bridges between the communities and the repeated meetings between leaders.

He added: "We live in a multi-cultural society and a multi-faith society, and in Keighley we have done a lot of good work.

"I wanted to use this opportunity to send out a message that prominent figures from both faiths came here to send out a strong message."

The Rev Peter Mott, priest-in-charge of Keighley Shared Church, thought it was a productive event.

He said: "We were talking about how faith can be part of the answer to community cohesion rather than part of the problem.

"Worldwide the Muslims have got genuine grievances. They want the white community to address such things like the marches for peace before the war.

"That message got across that the white people did not want the war. They want us to speak more against these atrocities."

Mr Mott, who said he intended to visit Dr Sajid-ur-Rehman in Islamabad during his forthcoming sabbatical, added: "It is indiscriminate killing and these acts are against Islamic teaching, so they are happy to say that but they want us to be more vociferous on the atrocities that are committed against Muslims in the Middle East.

"This indiscriminate killing is unjust."