Great irony in the fact that the article was commenting on an Archbishop receiving death threats from Muslims for daring to comment on muslims who might make death threats! It is unbelievable that this is tolerated any in any form. Lets go and ask Muslims individually (if there are only 1.6m) are they willing to renounce violence and be part of the multi-culturalism that is Britain. If the answer is no then may we suggest the rough guide books on Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other such desirable places that have sought to reject the tolerance we seek.

Martin McDade, Glasgow, Scotland

The British government clearly lives in a lalaland. It just shows they don't walk the same streets as ordinary people do!! Do they think it's normal for a white british born and bred person to be screamed at by hysterical Muslims - Go back to your own country! ??

1.6 million Muslims compared to the total of 58,845,700 inhabitants of GB. It's ridiculous how the majority gets easily intimidated by the minority.

Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today beacuse it'll come back and bite you.

Nats, Paris, France

1.6 million and rising.
That is the problem.

Michael Rigby, Blackburn,

l Moved to California from Small Heath 32 years ago ( talk about culture shock !! ).But one thing l was told very quickly by the locals if l did start to criticize American culture was "Love it or leave it".Try telling them that on the Coventry Road !!!!

Kevin, Mountain View, USA

Interestingly and well-written.

I hadn't thought about it before, but piety is linked to rejection of Western culture. To some degree, this is inevitable - most codes of belief differ to modern society in some way - but I'd be interested to know what most Muslims think about the idea of being a good Western Muslim.

Anna, Plymouth, UK

I am a Hindu, not a Muslim and am in fact a strong critic of Muslim extremism.

But I have to say on this question there is huge hypocrisy and blindness by those who are yelling about Muslim no-go areas.

Do white people realise how unfriendly and even frightening white ares in Britian are for coloured people?

Thank God I have moved to Canada where I feel far more at home, but when I lived in Britain until a few years ago, I felt like a caged animal, afraid to move freely outside a few heavily-immigrant areas in the cities. Whenever I was in a white area, I could feel the hostile stares.

All Asians I know in the UK confirm this impression of mine about Britain: surly and unfriendly to coloured folk.

So what is all this fuss about no-go areas? The white majority has always been running no-go areas against the coloured minority.

Ganpat Ram , London , UK

Would it help if we all left our skins at the door before we entered?
Thats ok you can always come here, we generally welcome immigrants ......... even poms

Udo, Melbourne, Australia

Reverse colonialism!! Industry to China, the country to extremists. How luchy we, who got out!

Fred Hillman , Perth, W Australia

So a bloke in Buffalo NY, 'SAS', knows about ghetto land in Britain, ghettos he has never visited, and that's a serious comment to pit against a former extremist who writes on this topic - get back to your buffalos.
Muslilms in the UK get a fantastic deal: even have nurses turning beds to face Mecca every four hours! You really can bet your bottom Buffalo dollar that Muslim women will never ever be in mixed sex wards.
Islam plans large Islamic ghettos to solidify, thence make more demands, and more...its all happening in many hardening no go areas.

Fati, Dalston, UK

Onward Christian Soldiers!!!

louis blanc, Liverpool, UK

In response to Peter: If you think you have to make up for the empire by giving away your homeland to everyone who wants a share, so be it. Just don't complain if the laws imposed by the new owners are not in compliance with your conception of liberty. Marc, Germany

Absolutely spot on. Thank you Marc. I don't understand the guilt and self-loathing of the British. Who cares what happened hundreds of years ago, as nothing can change the past. You still have a right to a country of your own with its own unique identity.

I lived in the UK for years, and sorry to say that sometimes I didn't feel like I was actually in England, but an Asian country.

Laura, Washington State-US

Laura, Spokane, WA

If the fundamentalist Muslims in the UK despise non-believers and think so little of the privilege of living in Britain today why live there at all?

Heather, Vancouver, Canada

To James Burke,
The issue of VISAs and the way in which they are issued will never resolve the problem of people wanting to enter a country to carry out terrorist activities. I think that the many rushed paranoia fuelled policies pushed through parliament both on your side and my side of the pond following the attacks in New York prove that knee jerk reactions do not work. Home grown terrorism is a risk that every country has to live with and I accept that here in the UK we do have a few issues but please do not believe anyone that suggests Canada does not also.
It is very typical of countries that have never experienced a sustained period of terrorist attacks to panic and allow the press to work everyone up so they are running around like headless chickens accepting the first idea that comes by; regardless how stupid it sounds. The problem is not that bad, take a look at the risk and put it into perspective and when you do that you will see it is not that high!

Steve Williamson, Manchester, UK

I agree with Dom. I think it is pretty ridiculous to speak of no-go areas. It is worth mentioning that every heavily Asian districts of London like East Ham have sizeable non Asian, non Muslim, indeed English communities even when they are in the minority. Is there any evidence that non Muslims are being discriminated against in terms of housing ? I do not think I have ever seen evidence ? If anything, the incitement against Muslims in the press and media and the statistics on racism and discrimination and violence suggest that Muslims tend to be victims of European intolerance, not as apologists for the far right suggest, the other way around.

SAS, Buffalo, NY ,

From somebody who was once very keen to see the Labour party in power, I have to say that this government has well and truly lost the plot in relation to the whole immigration, asylum and multiculturalism debate. There are many parts of London where hearing spoken English is a rarity, and it seems the UK is a country where everybody can get a square deal except the English. The government's actions may be well-meaning, but with hindsight they will be seen to have been thoroughly reckless

Richard, Bexhill, East Sussex

I am not British.

I live in Canada and I feel that anyone coming to Canada must have a visa to board the plane given that AL Qaeda has recruited many white people.

I am sorry but this VISA restriction must apply to all british subjects.

James Burke, Montreal, Canada

Brits can show tolerance to insularity and friendliness to immigrants, and that is our responsibility, and if we talk straight about our opposition to jihadis (something that the mainstream parties sadly avoid, leaving the field open to polarising forces like the BNP) we can keep or bring a critical mass onside, especially those in business and so on who do understand good relations (Shiraz Maher). Faith communities do rely on a degree of isolationism, and communities tolerate this self-protective or simply unworldly element in their midst. the guardians of the faith.

BUT the overwhelming issue is the hostility of specific cultures. Many Jews are insular but there is no sense personal risk in Stamford Hill, unlike Cheetham Hill. Maher is right to pin this on groups like HT.

The idea that Muslims generally are to blame for not integrating is nebulous and unhelpful. Bridging a culture gap takes time. Countering hostility takes resolve. Hysteria is not a good start.

Dom, Manchester, UK

In response to Peter: If you think you have to make up for the empire by giving away your homeland to everyone who wants a share, so be it. Just don't complain if the laws imposed by the new owners are not in compliance with your conception of liberty.

Marc, Germany,

mr. maher forgets to realise that no matter where muslims live in the U.K they promote ethics of work, get on with their neighbours, pay their taxes and help societies by getting involved in charities, community work,social work. mslims promote a strong education for thier children, shunnig of crime and anti-social behaviour. these values and beliefs any community woul be proud of.

sa, midlands,

I too was born and brought up in Waltham Forest Yusuf. Kindly allow me to be the judge of the fear, caution and unease I feel whenever I have to return there on business.
I may well have survived my recent visits but mere survival is not enough to justify your saying "It is far from a no-go area".

ew, uk,

I would be interested to know why as a white British person I feel under threat to express a personal opinion these days, regarding those persons who , after all have chosen to live in this country. I, myself lived in a foreign country for 10 years and I would never have dreamed of constantly critisising their religious values. I was a guest, a foreigner, as it said on my ID card., something we would never tolerate in this country. I totally agree with the fact that this country has gone way to far to accomodate such religious views.. We are all meant to be equal, but with that should bring a right to freedom of speach, so long as it does not insight violence. People should be free to live where they wish, but in doing so should embrace the culture and values of that country, if they do not wish to then, dont live there. Finally if you are wondering where this counrty was that I lived that branded me a foreigner, it wasnt some third world country, but SPAIN !!!!!

Melanie, Norwich,

Previous immigrants needed to learn English, work and understand the British way of doing things fast - or starve. Recent immigrants do not need to work, know anything about Britain or even get a job because they can live perfectly well on benefits. When one comes form a poor country the ability to get free health, education, housing, food, etc for nothing must seem like paradise. When they do work it is often social work or teaching within their own community, not something that gets them out and meeting others. Whilst I do not think that people should be threatened with starvation, there is a need for people - all people - to be incentivised to learn English, do real economic work in the economy so that the Muslim young people have an incentive to get out into the real world , to accomodate the world at large and find out what we are like. We can also, of course, abolish all laws favouring any particular religion and enforce those against abusing women.

R Mason, London, UK

I think the most interesting point that was made regarded the moral relativism which now pervades the British psyche.

We do not know who we are or what we believe in and I can understand why Muslims choose to refrain from such a society.
Generally our society believe's truth is relative and that we as individuals are the masters of our own morality. We've all heard the phrase: “True for you but not for me.”
This though leads to:
1.rampant individualism which is not conducive to building a cohesive society;
2.an inability to reasonably criticise immorality. The fact of the matter is that if we as individuals are the masters of our own morality and determine our own truths then we have no right to condemn others with alternative views and moralities. How can we then justifiably criticise Hitler or Pol Pot. They were simply following the natural out-workings of their own truths.

We need to work out what Britain actually believes in before we tell others what to believe in.

Nathan, Invernes, UK

When you live and were brought up in one specific geographical area, everyone outside that area is a Stranger. Strangers are different, go to pray in one hall and not another, shop here and not there. I am describing the self imposed ghettos of the wealthy upper middle class.

Jane, Whittlesey, UK

It would seem that multiculturalism is really only a monocultural value, we open our doors, lands and minds to other cultures only for certain elements of those cultures to try and undermine the very values and principles which allow them such cultural freedom. That Hazel Blears "[doesn't] recognise the description....talked about" does not mean that the description is not true, it just shows how inept and myopic she really is. Action must be taken, from within and without the Muslim community, and a good start would be to wrest control of the mosques from the intolerant and fundamentalist Diobandi sect, who now produce almost 80% of Britains Muslim clerics. I have a feeling that Britain will not stand for much more of this.

Phil Osopher, Edinburgh,

Muslims seem incapable of getting along with others, even others withing their own religion (other sects), They seem to live on a perpetual war-footing with others until they can take over...and even when they take over an area or a whole country they still seek out other areas and countries to war with. It's sick. They seek to validate their seriously flawed ideology by eliminating all opposition. Just having people around who don't follow their ideology is reminder of a different way, a better way. And this they cannot stand.

Stephanie Anderson, Raleigh, NC USA

Care to register any particular bias, Yusuf?

Kate Curry, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

It needs to be clearer that any 'no-go' area/culture is a project of an Islamist vanguard, and is not characteristic of ordinary Muslims. Though it may soon be, if otherwise sensible people continue to be incapable of distinguishing between Islamists and Muslims.

Oh, and Britain's 'cake' contains a lot of flour from the empire. As for "autochthonous population" - who are these noble people, sprung out of the earth then? The children of Deucalion?

Peter, Liverpool,

What a scary headline 'Muslim Britain'. Britain is not a Muslim country it is multicultural; may it tolerantly remain so.

Sue, Cheshire, UK

Multiculturalism is the worst thing that ever happened to the once great Britain. It invites the whole world to take it's part of the cake, leaving nothing for it's autochthonous population. If this trend continous there soon won't be anything British left in Britain.

As M Rezwanul Hoque wrote: just a big empty space for people to breathe fresh air.

Marc, Germany,

Hear, hear to Shiraz and Nazir-Ali

Phill Barlow, The Wirral, England

Well done for speaking some truth again; Bishop Nazir-Ali was entirely right to air the issue; in fact it should have been done years ago, still better late than never. A well known Christian Bible teacher said some years ago that Britain could well be the first western nation to come.under the domination of Islam, and the reason would be the British unwillingness to speak the truth and unwillingness to offend, Coupled with this is an incredible naivety about Islam amongst the governing classes. We need to change gear pretty quickly to save the situation. We really need a revival of real Christianity at the heart of national life, because that would solve the problem of moral and spiritual leadership that Islam is now busy filling. It also means ending the policy of appeasement towards Islam adopted by this government. This does not mean physical and verbal abuse of Moslems, but it does mean fashioning a much more coherent vision of what Great Britian stands for. Easier said than done

Mark , Worthing, West Sussex

It seems that the only bishops in the Church of England prepared to stand up for England's Christian identity are the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu (born a Ugandan) and the Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali (born a Pakistani). All the others appear to be craven time-servers.

Dave, Wrexham,

The new bishop of oxford says most of the Anglican bishops disagree with bishop Nazir Ali, including himself; he is strongly backing the daily 'calls of prayer' to be sounded over the unfortunate residents of East Oxford despite their fierce protests and outrage of this unwanted imposition at the behest of the local mullah.
The C of E bishops are, like the politicos, 'in denial'.
Congratulations to the author of this article for joining Michael Nazir Ali and telling the truth, unlike the cosy denials of the bishops.

Fati, Dalston, UK

Well, from my experiences on my brief stay in 2004 in London and the surrounding counties, I do believe, Brtiain is a great open space for people to breathe fresh air. Multiculturism, among countless others, is perhaps a great boon this great, great nation has made to the wold. Genuine Islam in no way confronts this essentially British mindset of moderation and toleration. I would humbly beg fellow Muslims all over the world to make the most of it: let us live and let live, in peace and happiness; in amity.

M Rezwanul Hoque, Chittagong, Bangladesh

This is the worst type of opportunistic scare mongering I have read in at least the last week. I was born and brought up in the borough in which Leytonstone sits. It is far from a no-go area. The use of one reaction to John Reid's visit to highlight backing for Bishop Michael Nazir Ali's statements shows that Mr Maher does not care if the facts get in the way of his story. The ghettos that he speaks of are caused by movement out by indigenous 'white' people that can afford to move to more afflunt areas rather than movement in by minorities. These areas tend to be the most economically deprived areas.

Mr Maher has to be clear. The Bishop spoke of geographical no-go areas whilst he speaks of the 'ghetto mindset', he cannot back the Bishop's comments as well as disagree with its main plank.

Yusuf, London,