Many British Muslims will be disappointed that Mr Griffin's comments on Islam, which were about as accurate as his comments on race and The Holocaust, did not receive the same abhorrence and rejection and actually drew some applause.

People are a lot better informed now on race, allowing Mr Griffin's racist views to be thoroughly rebutted, yet people are still largely misinformed about what Islam really stands for.

Nick Griffin's justification for his party's views and propaganda on Islam & Muslims was that Islam's Quranic teachings meant it had no place in the West as its values were against the decent and democratic values of Britain - singling out the treatment of women, establishment of Sharia Law and teaching violence against non-believers.

Islam was in fact the first religion to establish the rights of women. Islam established property rights, rights of inheritance, the right to divorce and for widows to remarry.

Before Islam women were suppressed in Arabia.

Muhammad (Peace be upon him) not only established the rights of women in Arabia but told his followers that "the best among you is one who is best to his wife".

As regards tolerance towards non Muslims, "There is no compulsion in religion" [2:257] is an important Quranic teaching and in Muslim Andalusia it was the Muslims that created a justice system that protected Jews & Christians to give them complete freedom to practise their religion at that time.

Although Muslims are instructed to live their lives and practice their faith in accordance with genuine and correctly interpreted/applied Sharia Law, they are also instructed in the Holy Quran to adhere to the governing laws of the country they live in - especially in a country that preserves their rights to practise their faith!

[4:60] “Oh ye who believe, obey Allah, obey his messenger and those who are in authority among you.”

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) also said: “One who obeys his authority, obeys me.  One who disobeys his authority, disobeys me” and “It is obligatory on the faithful to listen to and obey their rulers, except that they be ordered to commit sin.”

And as far as democracy is concerned, it seems that democracy is preferred and highly commended in the Holy Quran, which say’s

[4:59] Verily, Allah commands you to give over the trusts to those entitled to them, and that, when you judge between men, you judge with justice.

In fact Islam implemented a full system of democracy less than two years after the death of the Holy Prophet in 634 A.D when the 2nd Caliph Omer Bin Khatab governed the state of Islam on the principle of democracy.

Islam literally means Peace, the Holy Quran instructs Muslims not to create disorder in the land and maintain peace. 

[25:64] "…walk on the earth in a dignified manner, and when the ignorant address them, they say, Peace!”

 [5:9] "O ye who believe!  Be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity; and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be always just, that is nearer to righteousness." 

It is a great shame that the views, beliefs and religious interpretations of an extremist minority - often with political and territorial motives are taken above and beyond the beliefs and actions of more than a Billion Muslims living peacefully and moderately worldwide, as the true representation of Islam.