Aamer Anwar

Asad Shah, an Ahmadi Muslim, was killed by a Sunni Muslim.

Mr Anwar, who described himself as a “part-time Muslim”, is to discuss his faith for the first time at an event in Edinburgh tomorrow on spirituality and peace.

Describing his faith and image, he said: “People don’t often tend to associate peace and spirituality with me. I don’t fit into what is probably the stereotypical box of what a Muslim is.

“Yes, I am ‘part-time’ but I’m very conscious of a moral compass about what’s right.

“I’m not highly religious, spiritual yes, and I pick and choose what I think is acceptable to me. My views will often conflict with others that I may well have to defend.

“I do not pray five times a day, it’s on public record that yes, I do drink alcohol, and that I’m relatively liberal and Westernised in my points of view, and that conflicts with sections of my community.

“But I will stand up and I will fight for the Muslim community when they’re under attack but in no way is that different from standing up for other sections of the community under attack.”

Scottish Legal News last year condemned violence against lawyers and the Law Society of Scotland found in a survey that a third of Scottish solicitors had been victims of violence or threatening behaviour in connection with their work.