Conservative Reality V Dangerous Liberal Fantasy

There were two interesting letters in the Daily Telegraph this morning. One was very unusual in that it implicitly referenced the Koran and its influence on Islamic terror. I don’t believe I have ever seen this in the mainstream media before. The other was the usual liberal/establishment kumbaya guff that got the West into trouble in the first place. One of the letter writers understands Western civilisation - the other threatens it.

SIR – After yet another Islamist terrorist atrocity, is it not time to examine carefully from where they are driven? The Koran contains 109 verses exhorting Muslims to violence, many directly against Jews and Christians. The vast majority of peaceful Muslims reject this teaching, but those who do not are not “radicalised”, they are just following the Koran’s teachings. It is time for a mature debate on what Islam teaches and stands for.

SIR – It is vital that the horrific murder of Fr Jacques Hamel does not – as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant intends – divide Christians and Muslims. It is more important than ever that Christians and Muslims together affirm their trust in the unfailing mercy of the one God. It would be good if more clergy invited an imam to speak in church and arranged social occasions, such as the annual Peace Walk in Oxford, where people meet and those afraid of racist abuse know they are supported.