Religious leaders defend social cohesion
“Also make sure that our young children stay away from the clashes.” In a statement released Tuesday, August 6, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) called for calm among the country’s faithful in the face of anti-immigration riots that have rocked the country. These violent demonstrations come after an attack on July 29 in which three young girls were fatally stabbed in the town of Southport.
While saluting the work of the police who “puts himself in danger to protect our communities”this important association representing Muslims in Great Britain calls for the greatest vigilance for people who participate in “counter-demonstrations”. Muslims have been the target of protests in several cities and on social media since the knife attack.
Violence that tarnishes “our national conscience”
The number of statements by religious leaders is increasing across the Channel in this context of extreme community tensions. In a joint statement, the Anglican bishops, including Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of the Church of England, also called for calm on Tuesday 6 August. They denounce the ” anti-Muslim hatredthe targeting of mosques, the assault on asylum seekers and refugees, violence against the police and private property (…) which tarnish our national moral conscience”.
Church leaders have committed to working to build a “constructive and compassionate dialogue on immigration and social cohesion”. Bishop Paul McAleenan, in charge of the migration file for the Catholic episcopate, condemned the “terrible violence” testifying “of a disregard for the values which underpin the civil life of (the) country”.
“We do not tolerate attacks on mosques”
Earlier, seven religious leaders from the Southport area had pointed out the “people who sought to use this tragedy to sow division and hatred.” The declaration was signed by the Bishops of Liverpool and representatives of the Muslim, Jewish, Sikh and Hindu faiths. “We must remain calm and peaceful at this time and (…) we are united in our desire for peace and justice.”
Furthermore, some initiatives by religious figures, even modest ones like that of Imam Adam Kelwick at the Abdullah Quilliam mosque in Liverpool, to try to calm the situation, have been highlighted by the British media. “We will not tolerate attacks on mosques or Muslim communities,” said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced a series of tough measures to put an end to the disorder.
