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'The fact that our beautiful religion can be so misused hurts us badly'

Profile of Dumbarton businessman Abdul Aziz, by Marc Horne. Aziz, a former postmaster, is a popular and well-known figure in the [Dumbarton] community, and has dedicated himself to improving community relations. He helped raise more than £2,000 for Christian Aid's tsunami appeal and gives talks about the reality of being a Muslim Scot in local schools. A born and bred Scot, he is devastated that his hard work to build bridges faces being ruined by the actions of individuals who had spent no time in the country and had no respect for the lives of any of its people.

But Aziz says he and his family have been strengthened by the friendship of their predominantly white friends in the area, who flocked to his home to offer support in the days after the attacks. Among the well-wishers was the Rev Robert Watt, a Church of Scotland minister who lives nearby.

The cleric is a longstanding friend of the family and regularly travels to Glasgow's Central Mosque in a gesture of solidarity. Watt was there as I arrived with the Aziz family for the main Friday afternoon prayers.

I watched as the Christian cleric was welcomed personally by the imam and by dozens of worshippers who wanted to shake his hand.

Watt was visibly touched by the warmth of the reception, but angered by the negative stereotypes that routinely surround the Muslim community in Scotland.

"The vast majority of Muslims are normal, peace-loving people who will have nothing to do with terrorism or extremism and are as horrified as the rest of us by the attacks," he said. "People might be surprised, but I have been coming along here for more than a year and I haven't seen a single burqa. We have our bad eggs in our communities and the Muslim community is no different."

He adds: "In the dreadful case of the Kris Donald murder, the perpetrators were instantly labelled as Muslims, but I have never heard Harold Shipman or the Yorkshire Ripper being referred to as Christians."

Full story at Scotland on Sunday.