Dr Iqbal is clearly very hurt by what he perceives as a deliberate insult to the Prophet by the Pope, who is the leader of one of the largest Christian denominations. He says that the Pope's lecture was a provocative attack on Islam.

He tells us he has actually read the lecture titled Three Stages in the Programme of De- Hellenisation which was given to an audience of scientists at a German University. But he doesn't tell us in defining the context that the Byzantine Emperor quoted was involved at the time in defending Constantinople against the first siege by Islam and his remarks must be seen against that background.

Neither does he say that the Pope quotes Sura 2:256 and its teaching about peace as well as the instructions developed later and recorded in the Koran, concerning holy war'.

It seems to me to be self-evident that Christianity sprang from the amalgamation of Judaic teaching and Greek philosophy and I would expect the Pope to call for Europe to express its Christian identity. Would he be a true leader if he did not?

The Pope quotes a Muslim scholar, Ibn Hazn, and a Christian, Dun Scotus, and says the latter takes positions which clearly approaches those of Ibn Hazn'. I fail to understand how this attacks Islam today - very much the reverse. He's saying that some Christians take the same view on some issues as some Muslim scholars.

I am certain that few Muslims world wide have actually read the lecture. I suspect that someone carefully ensured that one selected paragraph in a six-page scholastic lecture was widely disseminated. I do not think this person was motivated by a desire to lead us into truth or honest debate.

Christians have been murdered, churches have been attacked and leaders of nations have risen to demand apologies - and some to demand further apologies because the first one was not sufficiently abject.

After reading Dr Iqbal's article I considered the world I see from Bradford, with all its contradictions. Muslim countries who do not allow religious freedom to other religions but whose citizens demand equal rights in this country. English people who'll tell you plainly that we should forbid veiled women in our towns. A young man who refuses to explain his involvement with half a ton of explosives because he fears for the safety of his family in another country. Another young man who sets up a mixed community football group for the local kids.

I see the Christian West' responsible for havoc in the Middle East but also providing support and disaster relief. Much of this is spontaneous giving by individuals as well as the Governmental aid.

I see Muslims and others in this city trying their best to live together and at peace against a world where serious injustices and attacks on human rights are taking place at the instigation of many countries.

I can see that Dr Iqbal is deeply hurt. Perhaps he could take time to read again that lecture and think about its content. If the Pope is not in fact an agent provocateur for the Bush administration and the Church he leads is in fact seeking peace, he might find some comfort in talking to allies instead of throwing stones at them.