“Bravo to Anne-Marie Keenan for drawing attention to the difficulty of effectively debating issues involving Islam. Any objective reading of Islam’s texts, or study of its founder, or observation of the conduct of its more enthusiastic devotees raises serious doubts about this ‘religion of peace’.

“Unfortunately, drawing attention to those doubts is very difficult. For example, for years I have been writing letters to newspapers. Letters that critique Christianity, its Bible and its historical figures often get published and, in turn, Christians get to make robust criticisms of us atheists. And so it should be.

“Letters that critique Islam, on the other hand, are routinely edited or dropped altogether. One can say what one likes about Jesus, but not Muhammed, it seems.

“Until the media overcomes its fear and ends this double standard, important issues that have very real, and damaging, effects on people’s lives will not be addressed.

“Meantime, the far right, who are not afraid to criticise Islam, will exploit this and continue to grow.”

Letter in the Scotsman, 30 August 2008