Thank you for your interest in bringing about greater harmony and reconciliation between Muslims and Christians and for sharing your thoughts about Islam and Muslim countries. Though on a number of points I beg to differ with you, I am not of those who view censure through a lens of political correctness that demands an unreasonable indifference to difference. Unlike others who have responded to you in the media I do not oppose you just because you voiced disapproval. It is good that you did not obfuscate before a community inexpedient these days to criticise nor wash your hands of responsibility for the truth as you see it. In keeping with your high standing in the Church of England you did not follow the ignominious example of the one who cynically asked, “what is truth?” before abandoning truth in front of an easily offended crowd.

“If he were alive today, how might Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest apostle of non-violence, challenge Osama Bin Laden’s worldview?”

Lord Bhikhu Parekh’s imaginary dialogue between them in April’s edition of Prospect magazine explores their arguments and motivations. Differing with them both, non-violent political and intellectual struggles in the Muslim world have been caught in their cross-fire, marred by underlying assumptions of Islam and the Muslim world. How would these struggles answer Lord Parekh’s ‘Gandhi’?