Archbishop: Christians should not be associated with any far right group
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has said that Christian imagery exploited by the far right in last week’s riots is “an offence to our faith”. Writing in The Observer, he said: “Let me say clearly now to Christians that they should not be associated with any far-right group – because those groups are un-Christian. Let me say clearly now to other faiths, especially Muslims, that we denounce people misusing such imagery as fundamentally anti-Christian”. He said the riots were racist, anti-Muslim, anti-refugee and anti-asylum seeker. Turning to the future, he said the path to reconciliation and living together well, is often a long and painful process of addressing injustice. “It means good housing, health and education for marginalised communities in our urban centres and former mill towns, as well as on the coasts and in the outer estates… Embracing the opportunities and challenges offered by living in such a diverse country is a task for all of us, and it is clear from the last few weeks that that work is long overdue”.
Muslim group set up in NW England to protect mosques under threat
A community group called “Protect” has been set up in the north-west of England, to protect mosques under threat of attack from anti-Muslim rioters. The BBC carries a report saying 1500 people signed up to the group within 48 hours of its launch last week, and it has vowed to continue its work, vigilant against attack. One of its aims is to check rumours of further unrest and alert communities. A founder told BBC editor Aleem Maqbool: “We will go there to defend, not with weapons, but just physically standing in front (of places). If anyone is attacking the mosque, we won’t allow it”. It was a rule of Protect that people neither turn up with weapons or with face coverings. He explained that the police “are doing an amazing job” but they are understaffed and this group was needed, alongside the police.
Chief Rabbi says Jews have been unwelcome at many counter-protests
The Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, has said that many British Jews are “feeling trapped between the anvil of the hateful far right and the hammer of the conspiratorial extreme left.” Posting on Twitter / X he said “it has been made all too clear over recent days that Jews have been unwelcome at many of the counterprotests”. Palestinian flags were present at many of these anti-racism protests. In Finchley, which has a large Jewish community, the MP raised complaints with police after leaflets were distributed calling for people to “Get Fascists, Racists, Zionists, and Islamophobes out of Finchley”. The Chief Rabbi said: “The speed with which some have expanded their attacks against fascists and racists, to include attacks on ‘Zionists’, betrays a complete ignorance of who Zionists are and indeed, who Jews are”.
Fifty peers condemn comment that riots were enabled by “Zioinist financiers abroad”
Fifty members of the House of Lords have written to The Times protesting at comments from Massoud Shadjareh, chair of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, who blamed “Zionist financiers abroad” for enabling far right protesters in Britain. In an open letter to the Home Secretary, he said: “Enabled by their Zionist financiers abroad, far-right elements have weaponised the tragic murder of three young girls in Southport to incite the country into pogroms against Muslims and people of colour.” The peers say the letter “asserts (with, of course, no factual foundation) that ‘far-right elements’ have been ‘enabled by their Zionist financiers abroad’. Such primitive, dangerous and disgraceful antisemitism needs to be called out and condemned”.
Need for increased engagement with Muslims in Northern Ireland
The Muslim Council of Britain has held several meetings in Belfast with police, politicians and local Muslim groups, after a week of violence in which there were daily riots, Islamophobic abuse targeting Muslims and destruction of property. The MCB says the visit underscored the need for increased engagement by political leaders and authorities with local communities. It resulted in an agreement for a stronger police response, increased protection, and reassurance for the affected communities. Secretary-General, Zara Mohammed, chaired a cross-party meeting attended by members of the Legislative Assembly, local affiliates, women’s groups, and those directly impacted by the violence. They all agreed that the violence must end, and long-term efforts were needed to protect minority communities. The First Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle O’Neill, expressed solidarity against Islamophobia and reaffirmed her commitment to ending the violence. Zara Mohammed also attended a meeting with the police with agreed a stronger police response, increased protection and reassurance for communities. Reflecting on the visit, Zara Mohammed said their conversations with business owners who lost everything was a reminder of the deep impact the events have had on everyday people.
OTHER NEWS
Alice is “dancing home to heaven”
Alice da Silva Aguiar, the nine year old girl stabbed to death while attending a dance class in Southport “has gone dancing home to heaven”, according to Father John Heneghan, who led her funeral service at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in the town yesterday. He said the family loves each other so much and this will help them. There was profound sadness, he said, but also a celebration of love, life and hope of heaven. Three hundred people lined the route as her funeral carriage made its way to the church, past pink ribbons and balloons tied to garden walls and lamp posts. Alice was described as a “good girl, with strong values and kind nature”. She was one of three little girls killed in the attack, alongside Bebe King, aged six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.
2,000 visit Walsingham to see relic of 15 year old boy about to be made a Saint
The Times reports that around 2,000 Catholics visited Walsingham last week to see a holy relic of Carlo Acutis, a London born teenager who died aged 15 from leukaemia. In his short life he became known as “God’s Influencer” through spreading Christian messages through his website and over social media. He is about to made a Saint, after stories that people have been healed by asking him to intercede. The relic is a sliver of the sac that surrounded his heart and is displayed within a glass case which is being taken on a tour of the world. The article says people travelled to Walsingham from all over England and as far away as New Zealand.
Pope re-affirms desire to visit China
Pope Francis has given an interview to the Jesuit province of China, in which he said he really wanted to visit China and spoke of his admiration for the faith of the Chinese church and culture. The interview with Jesuit Father Pedro Chia, was recorded in May and has just been published on the Jesuit’s YouTube channel. It’s expected that the Pope would visit the Marian shrine of Sheshan and meet with the bishops and church members, according to Crux Now. He told the interviewer that people in China were “masters of patience and waiting”. They were a great people: “Don’t waste this heritage, pass it on with patience, this heritage of great people.” In a wide ranging interview, he was asked how he handles criticism and opposition. He said at times it hurts, but: “Criticisms are always helpful. Even if they are not constructive, they are always helpful, because they make one reflect on one’s actions.”
Ukraine government ‘at risk of crimes against humanity’
Human rights lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, is warning that the Ukraine government is at serious risk of committing crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, due to its ongoing systematic attack on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is affiliated to the patriarchate in Moscow. Mr Amsterdam says newly revealed documents have uncovered a state policy to destroy this church and he has sent a letter outlining his concerns to the EU, and UK and US governments. The Ukrainians have set up an alternative church the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which was recognised by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople on 6 January 2019. Mr Amsterdam says there is a plan to subsume the Moscow affiliated church into the relatively new Orthodox Church of Ukraine. He warns that Ukraine must preserve basic human rights including the freedom of religion. Robert Amsterdam is an international lawyer with 40 years’ experience and is the founding partner of Amsterdam and Partners LLP, an international law firm.
European Jewish youth games competition held in Britain
The European Maccabi Youth Games, said to be one of the largest international Jewish sporting events ever to be held in Britain, took place in Hertfordshire last week. 900 athletes from 14 countries took part in basketball, football, field hockey, tennis and table tennis. Amir Gissin, chief executive of Maccabi World Union said: “The Maccabi Youth Games play a role in strengthening resilience, as well as in emphasising the mind-body-spirit connection that is integral to the development of the young athlete and the young Jew.” Jewish News report here
