Although I have a known dislike of Islam, that dislike does not extend to peaceful Muslim individuals. In fact I have spoken often of the fact that the first victims of Islam the political and cultural ideology are most often themselves Muslims. In those areas of the world where Islam rules, such as Pakistan for example, Muslim reformers and heterodox Muslims such as the Ahmediyya, are among those oppressed by Islam. I may disagree vehemently with their ideology and may criticise it at times but for balance I must also be aware that Muslim individuals are just that, individuals.

The counterjihad campaigner Tommy Robinson put up on his Parler feed recently a video of the Islamic Imam of the town of Drancy that has been distributed by the Guardian newspaper. The Imam was speaking about the horrific jihadist murder of a history teacher, Samuel Paty, for showing cartoons of the Islamic ‘prophet’ Mohammed, to show the value of freedom of speech.

Like this Imam I would love to see ordinary Muslims paying respect for Mr Paty and for Muslims to accept that freedom of speech and freedom to criticise anything, including religion, is a core value of Western culture.

I don’t think that this guy is bullshitting. I think that he’s generally horrified at what has happened. I’d like to think that he’s not alone in his view but I also have to recognise reality and accept that in the Islamic world, Islamic liberals such as this Imam appears to be, are in a minority. I wish that that situation was otherwise. When I saw this video I was torn between crying or singing ‘od yavo shalom aleinu’ (peace will come upon us yet) but what I do know is that we need more people like this.