When David Cameron met Barack Obama, shortly after the attacks at the offices of Charlie Hedbo, the American President said that Muslims in the US "feel themselves to be American."

Upon returning from Washington the Prime Minister defended the right of Communities Secretary Eric Pickle's right to send a letter to mosque leaders urging them to take responsibility in "explaining and demonstrating how faith in Islam can be part of British society".

According to the Muslims Council of Britain such correspondence suggested Islam and Muslims were incompatible with the British culture. Mohammed Shafiq of the Ramadhan Foundation said he was dismayed by the letter, which was "typical of the Government only viewing Muslims through the 'prism of terrorism and security".

The Muslim population in the UK numbers 3.5 million. A large percentage can trace their roots back to a rural region of Pakistan controlled Kashmir and Sylhet in Bangladesh. They arrived uneducated and with a very narrow, insular strand of Islam and settled in the North of England or inner city London.

In comparison the Indian community who settled in Britain were middle class and possessed a strong entrepreneurial background as well as placing a high priority on education. Many were expelled from Uganda by Idi Amin.

After 50 years in the UK the Indian community continues to thrive in education, tends to marry from within these islands and hence has fully integrated into society. In comparison - depressingly - sections of the Muslim community remais associated with forced marriage, honour based violence and low educational attainment.

There is no denying that foreign policy has radicalised some Muslims and that racism has also been a factor in reducing employment prospects of others especially post 9/11 and 7/7.

However, predictably, a number of Muslim spokespeople blame all the ills facing Muslims on government policy and discrimination. This is short sighted and promotes a victim mentality. An illegal war in Iraq is not to blame for a father forcing his daughter to marry a cousin thousands of miles away, who she barely knows.

If racism was too blame then then children of Indian origin would also be struggling as they are the same colour, speak virtually the same language and could be also be of the same religion.

Many of the problems impacting certain Muslim community groups are self-inflicted. Journalist and author Sarfraz Manzoor writes about growing up in Bury Park, the heavily Pakistani area in Luton, where mono cultural communities are perpetuated by first cousin marriages and spouses brought over from Pakistan.

In Scotland the Pakistani community, now in its fourth generation is strongly Punjabi middle-class and business orientated and religiously observant - in that most of them know and have been taught the true teachings of the Koran, rather than a perverted message of hate - compared to their counterparts south of the border.

During the Scottish Referendum Sadiq Khan, the shadow justice secretary and MP for Tooting in South London, campaigning in Glasgow talked about the impact Scottish Muslims have made on the political and cultural landscape of the UK.

He mentioned that the first Muslim Member of Parliament came from Glasgow and that it was Mohammed Sarwar who opened the door for other Asians to enter politics. Furthermore he added that it was Scotland's largest city that created Britain's favourite dish - Chicken Tikka Masala. Why would you not want to share that with the rest of us, he asked? It is also worth noting that the first Muslim councillor in the UK was a Scot - Bashir Maan - who arrived in Scotland from Pakistan in the early 1950's.

Former First Minister Alex Salmond often refers to when he was making his way to Glasgow Central Mosque, a day after the failed attack on Glasgow Airport, and received a phone call from the then home secretary Jacqui Smith, discouraging him from making such a trip. The former SNP leader revealed he politely declined her request and continued his way to the mosque.

Once the Muslim community in Scotland was exclusively Pakistani with Urdu the language of choice in mosques. However, the last 10-15 years has seen a rapid change with new arrivals from Africa and the Middle East, largely escaping brutal wars and political upheaval in their respective countries.

Just before Christmas an event was held in Glasgow to discuss the issue of racism within the Muslim community with some African Muslim complaining of discrimination and white converts feeling alienated.

In the last few weeks there has been constant a spotlight in the media on Islam and Muslims, on issues ranging from shootings in Paris and Belgium to latest IS atrocity and Saudi clerics issuing fatwas on snowmen. Despite such negative headlines organisers of Islam Awareness Week in Scotland next month, say they are experiencing an increase of interest in volunteers, wanting to get involved so they can show a true portrayal of Islam - something with Scottish muslims have always tried to represent faithfully.