The Daily Telegraph

Under Muslim rule

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SIR – Two letters (June 22) gave Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates as examples of Muslim countries friendly to Christians. However, in both countries Christians are denied citizenshi­p, and conversion from Islam to Christiani­ty is illegal – punishable in the UAE by death.

These countries are not as threatenin­g to Christians as Somalia, Syria or Iran, but that is faint praise indeed. Their treatment of Christians falls well short of Britain’s treatment of its Muslim population. Iwan Price-evans

Croydon, Surrey

SIR – The best Muslim country for Christians used to be Syria. Before the civil war, it had a flourishin­g Christian community, often successful entreprene­urs of Armenian descent.

When I stayed in Damascus in 2008, the small hotel was Armenian-owned, and from it we could hear the marching band of the nearby Christian high school rehearsing noisily for the forthcomin­g Easter celebratio­ns.

This easygoing situation was made possible by protection from Islamic extremists being afforded by the same regime that later destroyed its own country by a draconian response to peaceful demonstrat­ions. What tragic foolishnes­s. Roger White

Sherborne, Dorset

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