I thank Mr D Simpson for his clever letter of February 13 in the SA headlined All due respect. To answer your questions – I have not only read most of the faith books but I also studied some of these holy books and took notes.

The Bible: I’ve read the Catholic and Protestant versions. Further, I read a bible called the Red Letters. All the sayings of Jesus are in one book according to the author. Furthermore, I attended debates and seminars of comparative religions.

The Granth Sahib: this is the only religious book I did not open yet. You inspire me to study it.

The Torah: I’ve studied it in depth. As you may know, we Muslims must believe in the revelations before Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon Him): The Torah and the Gospel.

Having said that, we Muslims believe that the Torah and Gospel given by Moses and Jesus are not the same as the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John since the messages have been altered over the years.

The Vedas: I studied this book for seven years. I’ve learned it a lot in the area of thoughts and the philosophy of the mind.

The Isis: I was against the group when Britain, the US and other NATO members and Arab dictators were arming groups like these to fight against Gaddafi of Libya and Basher Al Assad of Syria from 2011 to 2015. In 2011 I had a dialogue with one of the local MPs and asked why he voted for wars in Libya and supported violent groups to overthrow the Gaddafi and Al Assad regimes. I reminded him that 50,000 civilians lost their lives by the NATO bombings alone in Libya. The answer was invalid and repugnant.

In 2013 I wrote a letter to the SA regarding why these two backbench MPs are supporting groups in Syria and voting for wars that would jeopardise world peace. No reply. It is something the people of Swindon should remember in the upcoming election.

I’ve always been pro-peace and pro-constructive talk to end conflicts. I have always been against war and violence because they create more wars and violence. I’ve always regarded countries that rely on weapons as uncivilised, intellectually immature and a danger to world peace.

I am not naïve, but I still believe we can achieve peace and make it better for the unborn generation. If people become participants in activism we can indeed achieve peace. We must not support one war and denounce another.

We must all condemn wars wherever they may be – Palestine, Burma, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen or Ukraine. When we do we have the power to make the life of this world peaceful and worthwhile.

Axmed Bahjad Fleet Street Swindon