INCREASING hostility towards Christians in Muslim countries is a predictable but distressing consequence of the vicious attacks on Iraq and Afghanistan, themselves a tragically misguided response to the dreadful act of mass-murder on September 11, 2001.

Half of Iraq’s Christians, who lived in relative security under Saddam’s regime, have fled their country to escape murderous persecution, while in Egypt 21 worshippers were recently killed in a bomb attack on a Christian church.

In Pakistan, a Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, was convicted of “insulting the prophet Muhammad” under Pakistan’s outdated blasphemy laws, notoriously used to settle private scores and persecute minorities. When the government dithered over the death sentence, extremist clerics called for her extra-judicial murder.

Salmaan Taseer, governor of Punjab, supported Aasia Bibi, and was murdered for his pains.

He was a man of great courage and integrity. He was also a Muslim.

This is not a conflict between one religion and another or between religion and secularism. It is a conflict between reason and compassion on the one hand, and intolerance, violence and extremism on the other.

People of all faiths, and none, must stand together against hatred and bigotry, whichever side it comes from.

Pete Winstanley, Durham