A PRAYER leader led a discussion on the joys and challenges for a Muslim living in the West.

Zack Pandor spoke at a meeting at the Friends Meeting House in Hereford following an invitation from the Millichap Peace fund.

Mr Pandor, who is a member of the newly formed Herefordshire Interfaith Group, said: "I am grateful for the invitation to talk; we all have a responsibility to engage in constructive debate to better understand each other, challenge myths and counter the extremists’ misrepresentation of Islam."

Mr Pandor was born and grew up in Gloucester and is the former director of IT for the NHS and Local Authority in Herefordshire. He is also a prayer leader for the Muslim communities in Hereford and Gloucester.

Mr Pandor added: "The joys of living in the UK include the tolerance of our society and the freedom from extreme poverty, relative to many other parts of the world.

"However, materialism is a challenge to those of religious faith. Like Christianity, Islam is a religion of many different strands. Islam has a considerable overlap with Judaism and Christianity, with respect for Moses and Jesus and with an emphasis on looking after one’s neighbours.

"The public view of Islam portrayed in the media has an emphasis on violence and other aspects of the Islamic community are ignored."

The meeting was attended by more than 75 people.