FOLLOWING Mr Spiteri's letter (You Say, October 29) I feel he has missed the point!

His closing remark "as a British-born citizen, is not Mr Riasat entitled to express his views?" is basically the observation I made in my last letter.

Of course he is, just as I am entitled to disagree and defend my country and its allies.

The point I made was that Mr Riasat should be able to follow whatever religion he wishes, or express his views through the media, without fear of being beaten or even shot.

Mr Riasat or Mr Spiteri, through the good graces of this or any national newspaper are allowed to voice an opinion or criticise others as they see fit, just as I am doing now.

"Freedom of the Press", while being an old clich, means that while Mr Riasat as a citizen lives in complete freedom in this country, and is able to criticise its policies with impunity, so have I or anyone the right to call those criticisms to question.

I would however have severe reservations about writing such a letter within the boundaries of most of the Middle Eastern countries and their policies that Mr Riasat appears to support.

May I advise that if the policies of this country are not to the taste of some of its citizens, or they find that rejoinders to their criticism of it not to their liking, that they keep their passports up to date.

R W BROWN,

Malvern.