Last week, I supported the idea of a memorial for the tens of thousands of Muslims who sacrificed their lives defending this country in the two world wars.

I certainly did not expect the vociferous backlash I got in the online comments.

"What a about a statue to commemorate the victims of 7/7 and 9/11?" asked one.

Another wanted me to condemn "all the attacks (by Muslims) on democracy and freedom of speech, and the humiliating treatment of women in Islam".

Others responses included: "Another example of Muslims asking for special treatment"; "no one in Easton was wearing a poppy or observed the two-minute silence"; "Easton shops weren't selling poppies"; "more people will hate Muslims"; "you're playing identity politics"; "creating sectarianism".

Others just mocked: "What about the cricketers, and the darts players and the cheese makers?"

Another was just "sick of this type of revisionist history"!

It was relentless. I had to actually read my column again, just to see what could have provoked such an avalanche of criticism; and yes, it really was just the fact that I was supporting the idea of a war memorial for Muslims!

In Coventry there is a war memorial for the Sikh Regiments. In Brighton there is a war memorial for the Sikhs and Hindus. In the US there is a Jewish Civil War memorial.

Indeed, there are war memorials to Australian, Italian, British, American, French etc. soldiers and civilians all over the world; every nation, colour, culture, creed and religion that has lost followers to wars throughout history has erected war memorials to them, so that they are never forgotten.

I was (and am) simply supporting the idea of a war memorial for Muslims, in the country they sacrificed so much for.

It would be privately funded; it is not asking for special treatment, just the same recognition. So what on earth could be the objection?

The answer perhaps lies in the Coventry war memorial to the Sikh regiments. Last year, the memorial was vandalised when a pig's head was tied to it.

The local Sikh spokesperson said "It seems like someone was trying to attack Muslims. It is ignorance."

That yobs would desecrate any war memorial is woeful ignorance indeed; whether daubing paint on them or urinating on them or tying a pig's head to them.

But it really is the same ignorance that is causing a growing resentment of Muslims in this country – a community increasingly tarred and judged by the actions of an equally ignorant few. Where even the sacrifice of tens of thousands pales into insignificance.

We have suspended comments on Farooq's column because of the nature of some of the postings