It's a week in which we hope to make the Muslim community more accessible to ordinary members of the public

Sher Khan

"When people say they support Bin Laden, what they really mean is his rhetoric about supporting Palestine," Mr Khan told BBC News Online.

"The Muslim community has always been worried about the state terrorism against the Palestinian people. That doesn't mean that somehow we oppose the British people.

"But we don't feel it is in the interests of Britain to carry out this particular war."

World Trade Centre attacked

Mr Khan said he hoped the Islamic Awareness Week, which features events including exhibitions, food festivals and invitations to non-Muslims to have a meal in the home of believers, would dispel some of the anti-Islam sentiment.

"It's a week in which we hope to make the Muslim community more accessible to ordinary members of the public," he said.

"There are people who regard their next door Muslim as a potential terrorist. That is not good for building community relations."

Munir Ahmed, president of the Islamic Society of Britain, said the overwhelming majority of Muslims reacted with horror to the events of 11 September.

'Peace loving'

"Never has it been so important to hold an awareness-raising week that can refute the myths and misunderstandings that surround the Islamic faith and demonstrate to the British public that we are a peace-loving community.

"Muslims form an integral part of UK society."

There are people who regard their next door Muslim as a potential terrorist. That is not good for building community relations

Sher Khan

Signatories to the pledge include Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy and London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

They promise to work towards better community relations between faith groups and avoid using language of an inflammatory or discriminatory nature.

Almost two million Muslims live in Britain.

The Islamic Society of Britain has been organising Islam Awareness Week since1994 to create a greater public understanding of the religion and to tackle misconceptions and prejudices about Muslim people.

For the first time this year, the charity will present a commendation for promoting better public understanding of Islam.

This year's recipients will be the producers of the BBC's Islam season Ruth Pitt and Aqeel Ahmed.