Madam, - I was disappointed and dismayed that the President attended the recent meeting in Saudi Arabia. That country is the most profoundly sectarian state in the world. No religion but Islam is allowed to be practised in public. The state does not recognise religious freedom under any circumstances. No churches are allowed. Jews are not even allowed to enter the country. It is the ultimate in religious intolerance. It is also the home of Islam, the destination of millions of Muslims every year for pilgrimage from many countries, including Ireland.
It is difficult, therefore, to comprehend the attitude of Muslims living in the West, who are totally free to practice their religion, in taking offence at mere cartoons. How would they feel if their religion was banned in Denmark or elsewhere? Then they might consider that a dozen cartoons was a small price to pay for religious liberty.
As a woman, how could President McAleese address a function at which females in the audience were kept out of sight simply because of their gender? Would she have acquiesced if the segregated audience was black or handicapped? You can bet that she will not be long returned until she is attending functions lauding the virtues of inclusiveness! - Yours, etc,
TOM SULLIVAN, Clooneybeirne, Roscommon.