Europe and America has millions of muslims in their soil.
What could happen if they these people are majority in 50 years? Who will protect atheists, women, homosexuals, christians, jews and freedom of expression and other good things we take for granted under a democracy?

not a happy future, Dallas, , Texas

It is time people called a spade a spade and stopped referring to Islam or any of the other religions of the book as a "peaceful religion". Any religion that uses labels such as "unbeliever" by definition advocates intolerance that will lead to violence. The two religions that have spawned the largest pogroms mankind has known are Christianity and Islam and its adherents continue to believe that theirs' is the true path. Both religions are rooted in centuries old thinking with no acknowledgement of modern science has done to debunk their religious tracts. The Koran and the Bible are arguably the two most dangerous books in the world today.

Lionel Baptista, New York, USA

Hi Huma Nawaz,

Islam is not a peaceful religion since these terrorists gain inspiration from Islam and the Koran and rightly so since the Koran does state that "a day with a sword is better than 40 spent fasting". So how do you expect muslims to be peaceful when their religion teaches them this?

How did the prophet justify himself? By war! By conquering Mecca and Medina. How does islam justify itself? Same way - by force! Terrorists are merely taking inspiration from their book.

Jackie, Mumbai,

Dean of Atlanta,
Where have you quoted your verses from? I would like to read more.
Debby of Pennsylania

Deborah Jacks, Allentown, PA

Islam does not teach what people are doing in the name of Islam.

Quran teaches Jihad which means struggle and that struggle does not mean to kill others in the Islam. It teaches muslims to struggle to follow teachings of Islam to become an exemplary human being.

B.A. Solangi, Ilford, UK

It is indeed very sad to see such a peaceful religion tarnished by a man's ego. Jihad means 'struggle' and it is so sad to see people defining it as holy war, when in fact the biggest jihad for a human being is fighting his/her ego.

It is indeed sad to see so many lives lost, but in the end it was an undesirable that was needed to show the world that the religion of Islam cannot be hijacked by such people. It does not help those moderate Muslims who are trying to promote the real peaceful side of the religion.

A point to those who wish to engage in a war to correct peoples morals- please deal with yourself, in that way we will all live in a better world. This message is for all, from the people in power right down to those who are home makers.

Huma Nawaz Syal, High Wycombe, Bucks

you call them defenders of the mosque. what were they defending?

Their right to hold weapons, bombs, explosives, ammunition inside a sacred place and attack others from within. The government gave them time to surrender. Time to walk out. When they refused the government has NO OTHER OPTION.

Religious groups of whatver flavour - Muslim, Christian, Buddhist cannot hold governments to ranson.

Its the government's duty to maintain LAW and ORDER. Otherwise why have governments?

simon, bandar seri begawan, brunei darussalam

Then said the Lord unto me, "Pray not for this people for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence."

Then said I, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place."

Then the Lord said unto me, "The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart."

Dean, Atlanta, USA

And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.

Dean, Atlanta, USA

Musharraf did the right thing. the loss of women and children life was imminent because they were said to be taken hostage by the militants inside. Pakistani society in general is very tolerant and majority of people in Pakistan have supported the decison taken by the general. in Pakistan there are some very good seminaries imparting both religious and contemporary schooling and open for everyone for inspection and visit. such organizations needs to be promoted to eliminate the menace of extremism and hatred against other religions.

Shiraz, Karlskrona, Sweden

"....machineguns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, ammunition, antitank mines, unexploded suicide vests and a crate of petrol bombs made from green Sprite bottles. Homemade bombs, gas masks..." and this is a religion?

Ron, Beijing, China

What is it about Islam that provides a template that can be so construed as to justify murder, suicide, and unimaginable cruelty against fellow human beings, and what lies in the animus of its followers that makes them so susceptible to being brainwashed into following the teachings of Muslim extremists.

Yves Sonya, Nairobi, Kenya

This loss of life was avoidable. The imam inside the mosque Abdul Rashid Ghazi accused the religous scholars of betraying him on the night of the final army operation. He said they had abandoned him and allowed the text of the aggreement to be altered. He said the religious clerics had agreed with him on all points and siege was to end peacefully but they simply went home and the agreement was changed. It was then that the Pakistan military began the assault on the compound.

Z Hussain, Rochdale, UK

It seems finally women get elevated in Islam - but only to be used as a suicidal mechanism.

There is really - almost no words for it.

Roxanne, London, England

So, President Musharraf has at last learned that appeasement of Islamists does not work. If the West had used force the same way as Musharraf in Iraq and Afghanistan, the war on terror may have been finished by now.

peter, London,

An interesting thing – all eyes are on Pakistan, but nobody even mentions Livan, where an army is shelling Palestinian refugee camp and not only militants are trapped there but civil population too. If Israel were doing it, UN Security Council would be in session non-stop, Amnesty International would issue statements and all peace-loving people would be in hysterics.

Alex, Riga,

How long will it take these extremist to understand that the ballot box is more powerful than the suicide vest.

Tabor, Pear., Ms

A stupid old man leading innocents into a barbaric last stand. These people now know that extremism will not be tolerated even in their own country.

kirk, Rotherham`, UK

Elder brother Abdul Aziz, was freed on parole to attend the funeral. I expect he is on his way here, then? This government lets all troublemakers into our country.

Christine in Hayes, Hayes, Middlesex, England

One day perhaps people will realise that no matter what religion one follows, "Love to each other" is always the most important saying. In an age where violence towards anyone who opposes your opinion is the answer to everything. We should be getting down to basics. Loving starts with your family, neigbour, street by street. Then perhaps we can love ourselves, country by continent.

Pam South Africa

Pamela Harries, Cape Town, Ca

Seems to me Pakistan needs a proper education system for all children, where they learn normal school subjects like mathematics, history, geography etc. Then the madrasses would be largely redundant (apart from Fridays perhaps). A balanced approach to education would also help create a more balanced view of the world.

Phil, Hong Kong,