Curious, I wrote back to him and asked him what 'Islamophobic' actually meant. I also asked him how it could apply to Cohen who had, after all, been suggesting that we all work with the Iraqi left, most of whom are presumably, er, Muslims. I didn't get a reply. Perhaps he had decided that I was 'Islamophobic' too, and thus dangerous to associate with.

This sort of woolly, accusatory rubbish is getting more common by the day. I've lost count of the number of times that I've heard unthinking lefties throw the term 'Islamophobic' at anyone who even questions the tenets or practices of Islam. I'm not sure when the British left decided that its primary duty was the unquestioning defence of one particular monotheistic religion, but it could lead them into a political cul-de-sac even deeper than the one they're already in.

Which is one reason I'm bothered about the announcement made in the Queen's Speech that a new crime of 'incitement to religious hatred' is to be put on the statute books. What does this mean? How is it defined? Who will be silenced by it? The suggestion that publicly criticising a religion is to be, potentially, a criminal offence is a deeply disturbing one. Some people compare the proposed law to anti-racist legislation, without confronting the blindingly obvious point that criticising someone for the skin colour they happen to be born with and criticising the religious doctrines and practices that they choose to live by are very, very different things.

This is a law which could used by extremists from every religion, from anti-abortionists to homophobes, to attempt to silence legitimate criticism of their grim beliefs. There's a good debate here which explores its pros and cons much more intelligently than I've done. I recommend it.

Oh, and, for anyone out there who's decided by now that I'm obviously 'Islamophobic' myself, have a look at this site, home to a Muslim woman who has made it her duty to publicly break her silence on the worst forms of her religion. You might find it confusing but hey, life is complex.