I HAVE read and heard much recently in the media about Aqsa Mahmood, who left Scotland, it is reported, to support the Islamic State, having been "privately educated" ("Anguish of jihadi bride's parents'", The Herald September 4).

I am at something of a loss to understand why this aspect of the young woman's life growing up in Glasgow seems to be getting emphasised. Is it because of surprise that anyone privately-educated should be capable of being influenced to support extreme ideals? There are cases over the years to disprove that notion. Is it because a private education indicates that she comes from a comfortable middle-class home and that one would not expect someone from such a background to pursue the course, which has received so much publicity? The implication of such a perception is that going to Syria to become a jihadi is really a lifestyle move for working-class aspirants only.

When one sees the obvious pain and concern of the two parents, I have the impression that the type of school, which their daughter attended, is of little or no signifi­cance as they try to cope with circumstances which they could never have anticipated and are beyond their comprehension.

Ian W Thomson,

38 Kirkintilloch Road,

Lenzie.

I AM a regular reader of The Herald Diary, and normally find its content humorous and suitably tongue in cheek.

However, Thursday's first item ("Playground wars", The Herald, September 4) was in my view an unacceptable low. Most folk of my age are, I suspect, generally puzzled by the enthusiasm of many younger people to share every item of life through tweeting, but we must accept it.

For a newspaper of The Herald's standing to try and make light of a situation which, for a local family, must be unimaginably heart­breaking and incompre­hensible, goes beyond the boundaries of good journalism. This item would have been better left out.

Alexander Farr,

21 Caplethill Road,

Barrhead.