A LANCASHIRE man honoured by the Prince of Wales for trying to bring different faiths together has launched a hard-hitting attack on Islamic State and described Britain as “heaven on earth”.

Zia Chaudhry, 45, received the MBE at Buckingham Palace for services to interfaith relations in Merseyside. He spent his formative years in Brierfield and is also the author of – Just Your Average Muslim – which calls for mutual understanding .

Mr Chaudhry, who contributes regularly to radio programmes, tweeted a “note to Isis” in which he said he had “not done much” to receive the honour: “Just tried to be a good Muslim, which, as it turns out, isn’t much different from being a good British citizen. And they’re rewarding me for it. That’s right. The non-Muslim monarch of a non-Muslim country is rewarding a Muslim for contributing to said country, even though he wrote a book in which he criticised some western policies.

“They don’t seem too bothered by that. I imagine they regard it all as part and parcel of the freedoms the Almighty granted to us humans, although I’m guessing that was one of the many Islamic lessons you missed.

“Yet, regardless of the above, you seem to think Muslims should be rushing to join the hell on earth you have created, because it will get us into heaven. Speaking for myself I’m fairly relaxed about getting in to the heaven of the afterlife. “

Mr Chaudhry, a barrister, has used his advocacy skills for more than a decade to help dispel myths about Islam and Muslims. In 2007 he founded the Spirit of Cordoba, a charity which aims to promote an understanding of Muslim culture.