No defence for Islamic terror

What a disgraceful and hysterical misinterpretation of my views by Eric Bahrt. I wholeheartedly condemn terrorism, no matter who commits it, including at Sabra and Shatila. I am not selective, opposed the war in Iraq, and abhor Zionism as much as Islamism. If he and The Nation were honest, they would concede that my letter was simply a corrective to a wave of one-sided, pro-Muslim articles.

But to compare the loss of 91 lives in 1948 with the avalanche of terrorism unleashed by Islamist terrorists in the last two decades - such as 9/11, the London and Madrid bombings, the Beslan school massacre (cruelly slaughtering 186 innocent children), Moscow bombings, Bali and Jakarta bombings, repeated bloody attacks in India such as those in Delhi and Mumbai, waves of suicide terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, the bombing of Coptic Churches in Egypt, repeated attacks, such as that recently by Boko Haram on the UN and other humanitarian agencies, and many more, as well as the vast number of foiled terrorist plots - is utterly ridiculous.

As a human rights lawyer, I am happy to match my personal record in practically defending human rights with his, and care little that he has simply joined a rights organisation and paid some dues. No doubt your paper will maintain its bias and give him the last word. Shame on you if you do.

Ghanga Darin

Bangkok