The Daily Express has come under intense criticism for running an inflammatory headline based on a recent poll of Britons on the subject of terrorism.

When asked if Britain is engaged in a "battle against Islamic terrorists", three out of four respondents believed it to be true. However, a frontpage article by the Daily Express' Gabriel Milland claimed: "Britain says: we're at war with Islam".

Results of the survey can be found here.

The headline was slammed by activists and anti-racism campaigners, who called for complaints to be made to the newspaper. Others have called for the matter to be reported to the Press Complaints Commission.

PR consultant Wahida Ashiq forwarded a letter to AIM magazine that she had previously sent to the newspaper.

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To the editor of the Daily Express

Dear Mr Peter Hill,

I was disgusted to read your article headlined Britain says: We're at war with Islam. This article is a disgrace because the headline does not in anyway correctly portray the contents of the article and has obviously been chosen purely to sell more newspapers.

Having read the article several times I cannot see how you are backing up the claim that the 'majority of Britons believe the UK and the West are at war with Islam'?

Surely you are talking about terrorism - because Islam by the virtue of its meaning is a peaceful religion that does not teach its followers to hate or threaten the way of life of non-Muslims.

I would urge you to think before you print such sensationalist headlines that are meant to do only one thing: stir up hate.

British Muslims on the whole are law abiding, make a valuable contribution to British society in many ways including contributing financially to the prosperity of this country and like the majority of sensible people deplore the use of violence as a way of being heard.

I would encourage you and your editorial teams to speak to moderate Muslims, who are in the majority not the minority, to ensure you have a correct interpretation of the values Islam teaches.

Yours sincerely

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Readers who wish to complain can send an email to the editor - peter.hill@express.co.uk, or the political correspondent Gabriel.milland@express.co.uk.

The Press Complaints Commission can be contacted through this page.