Wiltshire Muslims have condemned controversial plans from an Islamic group to hold a march through Wootton Bassett.

The as yet unconfirmed plan could see members of Islam4UK walk down the High Street with empty coffins to highlight the Muslim deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan.

There are fears violence could follow any attempt to parody the reverence and respect shown by the town to the coffins bearing servicemen who have been killed in the conflicts.

Wali Raham, secretary of the Wiltshire Islamic Cultural Centre in Trowbridge, said: “The group who are organising it are known to us as following an extremist ideology.

“It would be very disrespectful for the people of Wootton Bassett and their feelings. I think nearly everyone in the country is against the idea.”

He said the centre would consider a counter demonstration.

Mr Raham said: “I would like readers who are not Muslim to realise that every single Islamic group in the area is against this.

“We unreservedly condemn this march and call on the organisers not to go ahead with it in the interests of public safety and the Muslims they claim to represent, as well as to respect the rights of the people of Wootton Bassett and Wiltshire.

“We cannot support something that is going to incite such hatred and there is no way we can stand by and let that happen.”

Mr Rahman, who has spent most of his life in Trowbridge, admitted it could be hard to build positive relations in a mainly non-Muslim area, especially when extreme Muslims put forward such unpalatable views.

He helped set up the WICC in September 2008 to educate both Muslims and non-Muslims about Islam and to perform outreach work.

He estimates there are about 100 Muslim families in Trowbridge who are members and hopes the community will grow as time passes.

He said: “I think we can encourage a lot of people to be involved in a counter demonstration.

“Our membership is always growing and we are working very hard.”

There are also growing Muslim communities in Melksham and Salisbury who support the WICC and have forged links with Trowbridge mosque.

Mr Rahman added: “We are a small Muslim community. Something big like this has been one of my biggest fears and now it has happened. This is the sort of thing that is completely irrational behaviour.”

Mr Rahman has forged links with the Call to Islam Centre in Bury Park in Luton who have agreed to visit Wootton Bassett to protest if Islam4UK are allowed to go ahead with their march.

Mr Rahman said: “The centre in Luton successfully ran the extremists off the streets last year after a similar march in Luton. I can confidently say they will all support us.”