On Monday 2nd Feb, J Stone writes suggesting that Muslims who find the remarks of Robert Kilroy-Silk in the Sunday Express offensive, do not understand British culture and law. I would argue that it was Mr K-S who flouted our laws against inciting racial hatred, by suggesting that 'all' Arabs are terrorists. J. Stone further states that Mr Motala is 'a visitor or someone who has chosen to live in this country'. This could be interpreted as racism. Whether or not he lives here should not be important to the issues he raised. In fact, for the record, he was born and schooled in Gloucester. If J. Stone is so proud of our history of defending free-speech maybe he/she should consider the draconian laws our current Govt have brought in and those they intend to bring in. These have allowed people to be imprisoned without trial, or even the right to know what evidence there is against them (as these are all Muslim perhaps this explains why some feel the need for a Muslim Human Rights Commission). There is our Govts intention to bring in the 'Civil Liabilities Act' allowing people to be imprisoned for demonstrating against them. There has been the removal of rights to trial by jury for some hearings. Most peculiarly, in light of the 'weapons of mass destruction scandal', there is the intention of allowing evidence from inept spies to be sufficient to find people guilty when no crime has been committed and without the usual burden of proof required by British jurisprudence.

Bryan Meloy Gloucester Green Party