I WAS not aware that the Muslim community had an entire society devoted to its deceased members (Citizen, October 9).

However Vali Patel makes a very valid point as to the differing religions, despite vast sums of money spent by Preston Borough Council on equal opportunity matters.

It appears that Preston Council are generally more ignorant about genuine equal opportunity problems than they were prior to the now-defunct committee's existence.

While I personally do not accept necromancy in any shape or form, or practice it, it has to be accepted that all religions do, as do their followers.

These include Muslims, Jews and so-called Christians.

Provided the demands of such religions are not too outrageous, nor constitute a criminal offence, society as a whole is duty-bound, as a matter of courtesy, to respect these religions and their practises wherever possible.

Sadly, however, Preston Borough Council's attitude to equal opportunities has, thanks to the appalling conduct of its former equal opportunities committee, been restricted almost exclusively towards helping social deviants and criminals.

Mrs Eileen Timoroksa

Preston

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.