Libya is still in the process of paying compensation to the relatives of those who lost loved ones in the Lockerbie air disaster of 1988.

While it is difficult to put a value on anyone’s life, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s offer of $10 million dollars per passenger, $270 in total – was deemed acceptable by both George W Bush and Tony Blair.

I have a bee in my bonnet, or hijab to be more precise.

On an almost daily basis there are horrific stories pouring out of Tunisia about how the state police are ripping off the hijabs of women living there. Some of these women, who are merely fulfilling their religious obligation to wear a hijab, have been assaulted, sexually abused and even locked up in prison ...

There are times when we women are our own worst enemies. And I despair at the way the global sisterhood is often fractured and splintered by women who do more damage than any chauvinists.  A classic example was brought to my attention recently after a group of long-suffering neighbours smashed their way into a Pakistan brothel and kidnapped the owner.

Hooray! ...

A couple of years ago I was ridiculed and verbally attacked when I suggested that the British Government was trying to control Muslims to such an extent they wanted a uniform sermon in masjids on Fridays ... vetted and approved in advance.

I was accused of causing mischief and the main accusers came from a bunch of self important, male community leaders who thought they had access and influence with Number 10 because they occasionally had tea with Tony. Although I was barely two years old as a Muslim revert, the attack on me was personal, vicious and most un-chival ...

I must confess that the events of the last few days involving British woman Faye Turney and her Royal Navy shipmates have filled me with mixed emotions.

Faye is a captive of the Iranian Government and I can't help drawing parallels with my days as a prisoner of the Taliban way back in September 2001. Like Faye, I was simply doing my job and just like her I ended up being plastered across the world's newspapers portrayed as a victim of an evil, brutal regime.