6 AUGUST 2005, Page 17

Should Islam reform?

From J.W. Hurst Sir: What an excellent and overdue piece by Patrick Sookhdeo on ‘The myth of moderate Islam’ (30 July). Having read Bernard Lewis, Roger Scruton and Samuel Huntingdon among others, one can only agree that Islam is, and always has been, an aggressive and bloodstained creed which has no place in the 21st century, at least in its present form.

Reform along the lines suggested by the US-based Free Muslims Coalition would be a step forward. Sadly, I doubt that such reform is possible, given the current state of many Islamic countries, and, consequently, the 1,400-years-old war will continue.

J.W. Hurst

West Malling, Kent