The claim that Australian Muslims have somehow taken something or are attempting to change our way of life is preposterous. Only 2.2 per cent of the nation is purportedly Muslim; it's a far-fetched notion that this tiny minority can actually change Australia into a sharia state. Firstly, Muslims do not want to introduce sharia law into Australia. It is impossible, even if there were some calling for it.

Sharia means to live your life according to your Islamic principles – that is, following the principles of Islam: prayer, charity, fasting, and performing the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, if health and finances permit. The concept of sharia is very personal.

Secondly, sharia law, often confused with sharia, can only be implemented by an Islamic government. The last I looked, Australia is a democracy, governed by a secular constitution. As a Muslim, sharia law is the last thing I would like to see in this country. I believe there are more pressing issues that need attention: youth unemployment, suicide rates and domestic violence are just a few of the issues on the top of my list. Who on earth is serious about sharia law in Australia when we have so many more serious and real issues facing our nation?

But ironically, it is these protesters masquerading as patriots who have taken something from us all – they have taken our dignity as a fair and just people, they have stolen from the Indigenous peoples and felt no remorse, they have divided our nation, they have hijacked our creed, "Australia fair", and they have disgraced us all.

Even so, I still want these bigots to understand that as a Muslim Australian, I forgive you and I understand why you are angry, I respect your right to express yourselves and to believe in your cause. I want to embrace you and be your friend, your mate. I only ask you to do the same for me and the many decent, hard-working Aussie Mussies, who deserve to be respected, accepted and given the right to live their lives by their own faith and be treated with the dignity that all human beings deserve.