Richard Dawkins has hit out at claims he angrily walked away from an interview with a Muslim journalist because of his faith.
He tweeted a response to an article written by New Statesmen contributor Emad Ahmed which claimed Dawkins ended an interview with him after describing his belief in Islam "pathetic".
The scientist, who is best known to the public for his critiques of religion, wrote that, rather than walking away because of the journalist's religion, it was his insistence that Muhammad rode a winged horse as part of a miracle journey which prompted him to walk away.
Ahmed wrote in the New Statesmen: "I was genuinely stunned when he decided to angrily walk away from our scheduled interview after I confirmed my beliefs in the revelations of the Islamic faith, calling my views 'pathetic'."
Debate continues around the interpretation of Muhammed's ascension and whether it came via a four-legged animal during the Isra and Miraj - a night journey he is said to have taken in 621.
Nonetheless, for Dawkins, belief in such a experience has no basis in reality.
If you believe you're Napoleon or a poached egg, you're in an asylum. If you believe in winged horses you're a New Statesman journalist.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) December 27, 2015
Unsurprisingly, there's been swift reaction to his comments online.
Some agreed with Dawkins, however.
