AS a Muslim, I am shocked and horrified every time I hear of attacks being carried out purportedly in the name of Islam.

The Prophet Mohammad never, ever, condoned violence among Muslims or against others.

So to try to claim suicide bombings or other attacks on innocent people of any or no religion are somehow accepted by – or at worst encouraged – in Islam is wrong.

That is clear to all of us ordinary, practising Muslims. There is no ambiguity.

So the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby leaves me deeply disturbed.

That I am a Muslim does not automatically make me an associate or sympathiser of those responsible for his death. Quite the contrary.

I hope Lee Rigby's family, in their anguish and grief, know that and know our hearts go out to them in sympathy and in love.

Unfortunately for all, many Muslims I know have been experiencing the fall-out from Drummer Rigby's indiscriminate murder in the shape of name-calling and other abuse.

And some non- Muslims have also faced comments because they 'look like' Muslims. I am not quite sure what a Muslim is supposed to look like, any more than what a Catholic or a Hindu looks like.

I can see that if a woman is dressed in a full burqa or even just wears the hijab (the headscarf), then that is an obvious statement, just like a Catholic nun in her habit2 or a priest in his clerical collar.

But even so, should cultural, traditional or religious dress attract prejudice?

This type of thinking worries me because I know very well and first hand that Scottish society is a tolerant and welcoming one.

When I moved here aged four, I was warmly received. As I have grown up here, I have never felt threatened.

I am a Muslim Asian Scot and my husband and children all regard Scotland as their home.

For us, being Scottish is not about where we have come from. It is about being here now and feeling part of this great nation.

So how can we address the misconceptions that exist and keep Glasgow safe and tolerant?

My own community has work to do, for sure. We need to do more to encourage a greater knowledge of our beliefs.

Most people will find our values are much the same as theirs:

l To help the less fortunate.

l To be fair and caring.

l To help our children reach their potential.

l And to do what we can to move our Scottish society forward in a way that is inclusive for all.

It is important to remember, though, that extremism is not the prerogative of Islam.

We have all seen it in the English Defence League, UKIP, the IRA and Nazism.

The target groups may vary but the mentality is consistent: destruction of a readily identifiable group of people for religious or political reasons.

We all share the planet, its resources, its skills and talents. We share a responsibility for its most vulnerable people and, at least in democratic societies, we get the politicians we vote for.

Let us ensure that through this democracy, we do not ever put into power people who play to any extremists.

That is not the kind of society Drummer Rigby fought for and we owe it to him and to each other to keep it that way.

n Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh is bidding to be the first Asian MEP for Scotland. The 42-year-old, who has four children, aged 17, 14, 8 and 5, lives with her husband in Glasgow.

n She is a partner in a Glasgow law firm and the founder/ chairwoman of the Scottish Asian Women's Association.

n She is the SNP's National Women's Officer, founder of the Women's Academy, and wants to encourage more women to become involved in politics.

n Today, she expresses her horror at the circumstances surrounding the murder in Woolwich, London, of Drummer Lee Rigby.

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh is bidding to be the first Asian MEP for Scotland. The 42-year-old, who has four children, aged 17, 14, 8 and 5, lives with her husband in Glasgow.

She is a partner in a Glasgow law firm and the founder/ chairwoman of the Scottish Asian Women's Association.

She is the SNP's National Women's Officer, founder of the Women's Academy, and wants to encourage more women to become involved in politics.

Today, she expresses her horror at the circumstances surrounding the murder in Woolwich, London, of Drummer Lee Rigby.

AS a Muslim, I am shocked and horrified every time I hear of attacks being carried out purportedly in the name of Islam.

The Prophet Mohammad never, ever, condoned violence among Muslims or against others.

So to try to claim suicide bombings or other attacks on innocent people of any or no religion are somehow accepted by – or at worst encouraged – in Islam is wrong.

That is clear to all of us ordinary, practising Muslims. There is no ambiguity.

So the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby leaves me deeply disturbed.

That I am a Muslim does not automatically make me an associate or sympathiser of those responsible for his death. Quite the contrary.

I hope Lee Rigby's family, in their anguish and grief, know that and know our hearts go out to them in sympathy and in love.

Unfortunately for all, many Muslims I know have been experiencing the fall-out from Drummer Rigby's indiscriminate murder in the shape of name-calling and other abuse.

And some non- Muslims have also faced comments because they 'look like' Muslims. I am not quite sure what a Muslim is supposed to look like, any more than what a Catholic or a Hindu looks like.

I can see that if a woman is dressed in a full burqa or even just wears the hijab (the headscarf), then that is an obvious statement, just like a Catholic nun in her habit2 or a priest in his clerical collar.

But even so, should cultural, traditional or religious dress attract prejudice?

This type of thinking worries me because I know very well and first hand that Scottish society is a tolerant and welcoming one.

When I moved here aged four, I was warmly received. As I have grown up here, I have never felt threatened.

I am a Muslim Asian Scot and my husband and children all regard Scotland as their home.

For us, being Scottish is not about where we have come from. It is about being here now and feeling part of this great nation.

So how can we address the misconceptions that exist and keep Glasgow safe and tolerant?

My own community has work to do, for sure. We need to do more to encourage a greater knowledge of our beliefs.

Most people will find our values are much the same as theirs:

l To help the less fortunate.

l To be fair and caring.

l To help our children reach their potential.

l And to do what we can to move our Scottish society forward in a way that is inclusive for all.

It is important to remember, though, that extremism is not the prerogative of Islam.

We have all seen it in the English Defence League, UKIP, the IRA and Nazism.

The target groups may vary but the mentality is consistent: destruction of a readily identifiable group of people for religious or political reasons.

We all share the planet, its resources, its skills and talents. We share a responsibility for its most vulnerable people and, at least in democratic societies, we get the politicians we vote for.

Let us ensure that through this democracy, we do not ever put into power people who play to any extremists.

That is not the kind of society Drummer Rigby fought for and we owe it to him and to each other to keep it that way.