‘More united than ever before’: How communities are healing after the riots
Weeks after the riots which spread across Britain, Muslim communities are still rebuilding – both their property and their communities, after tranquil mosques in otherwise quiet towns found themselves shaken and unprepared for what was to follow. Years of interfaith and community relations appeared to go up in smoke overnight. But as Maira Butt reports, the violence propelled community sprit. In Southport, Imam Ibrahim Hussein said the outpouring of community support to repair the mosque was a result of neighbourly relationships carefully cultivated in the preceding years. Ibrahim Syed, a coordinator at the Liverpool Regional Mosque Network which oversees 20 mosques, said the violence marked an opportunity for change to embed Islam and Muslims into the mainstream and build bridges, hosting initiatives for everyone such as repair shops and soup kitchens. In Sunderland, Zaf Iqbal, co-chair of the Sunderland Interfaith Network, found himself barricaded inside the mosque while 800 rioters hurled abuse at him from beyond a barrier of dozens of riot police. It was traumatic, but that same weekend, community leaders organised a peace vigil and turned the tide. He said: “We’re more united than ever before.” Maira’s report is here
‘Quite shocking’ lack of contact between government and Muslim Council of Britain
The secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, Zara Mohammed, says the government has ignored attempts to discuss with them the danger to Muslims during the recent riots, when mosques and Muslims were targeted in violent attacks. She told The Guardian that there had been a “quite shocking” lack of contact with the new government, despite the fact that the MCB had been heavily engaged with Labour’s shadow cabinet at the highest levels. She said there had been no official communication from government since the election, but they would have expected to be contacts when the riots happened. Labour broke off relations with the MCB in 2009 after one of its officials signed a declaration which advocated attacks on the Navy if they tried to stop arms for Hamas. The Conservatives did not resume relations and had no formal conversation with any Muslim official or group. Before the election, Sir Stephen Timms MP described the government’s ban on talking to the Muslim Council of Britain as “absolutely absurd”. At an event last week, the faith minister Lord Khan was also asked about the ban and said but it was important to deal in a fair, open and transparent manner and he was looking at the principles of government engagement.
Pope declines invitation to lead mass at re-opening of Notre Dame
President Macron has revealed that the Pope has not accepted an invitation to lead the first mass at the restored Notre Dame Cathedral when it re-opens on 8 December. Pope Francis is said to have simply declared “I will not go to Paris,” without explanation. The decision has caused a wide debate with suggestions that the Pope has taken against France because of its progressive trends. The Times reports that he visited EU institutions in Strasbourg in 2014 and attended a Mediterranean celebration in Marseilles last year, but then said: “I’ll go to Marseilles but not to France” and he has made no formal trip the country since his election in 2013. The article quotes Le Figaro: “It seems increasingly obvious that Pope Francis is giving the cold shoulder to France”.
Press regulator IPSO said to be ready to intervene in Jewish Chronicle inquiry
IPSO, the UK Independent Press Standards Organisation, is reported to be looking at the recent stories surrounding the Jewish Chronicle and is ready to intervene. The move is said to have been made in an email requesting information from The New Arab publication, which is based in London. It quotes an IPSO statement saying: “We are carefully reviewing developments at the Jewish Chronicle. As regulator, IPSO’s role is to protect high editorial standards to promote a robust and trusted newspaper, magazine and digital news industry. We are ready to intervene where we have concerns about standards issues”. IPSO was asked to comment after four freelance contributors resigned from the Jewish Chronicle in protest, soon after reports from a freelance reporter on the Israel Gaza war were taken down, accused of being fabrications.
Christian pastor freed from jail in China after 20 years
David Lin, a Christian pastor from California, has been freed from jail in China after nearly 20 years behind bars and is back home in Texas. The Christian organisation China Aid says Lin visited China frequently in the 1990s and started to preach there in 1999, but was detained in 2006 for helping an underground “house church” build a place of worship and barred from leaving the country. In 2009, Lin was jailed for life for contract fraud, a charge laid against house church leaders who raise funds to support their work, according to the Dui Hua Foundation. His release follows efforts by the Biden administration to free several Americans whom the US believe to be wrongly detained.
Lib Dems’ record on Christianity making headline news
The story of the former BBC journalist David Campanale, an evangelical Christian who was removed as a LibDem parliamentary candidate because of his conservative views on issues such as same sex marriage, is featuring this week, as the Lib Dems hold their conference in Brighton. The Independent reports that in the legal action he is taking against the party, he may have to prove the truth of Biblical teaching in court and that he might call the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams in his defence. Dr Williams offered early support for Mr Campanale, saying the story could set a dangerous precedent and make it impossible for some religious people to join political parties, if dissenting views were banned. The Telegraph reports contents of leaked documents from the Lib Dem side, which defend the decision to sack him saying his beliefs conflicted with values of the party. Meanwhile the Mail criticises Lib Dem MPs for fiddling with their phones instead of praying during prayers in the Commons.
Christian Institute claims success in campaign to halt conversion therapy ban
The Christian Institute is claiming credit for the Scottish government’s decision to delay its conversion therapy bill. The Institute says the delay was in response to its threat to bring a judicial review on human rights and constitutional grounds. The SNP is now planning to rubber-stamp legislation developed at Westminster instead. The Institute says the “shelving of conversion therapy laws in Scotland, Ireland, Sweden and elsewhere show that it is possible to persuade politicians that such laws are problematic”. Conservative Christians object to a ban on conversion therapy saying it will restrict freedom of Christians to pray with and counsel people conflicted over their gender identity. The Scottish Government said it could resurrect its legislation “should a UK-wide approach not be achievable”.
Jesus Army redress scheme tops £7.7million
The final report on a compensation scheme for victims of abuse in the Jesus Army reveals that awards to applicants totalled £7.761 million. There were 264 perpetrators of abuse, of whom 61 per cent were leaders. More than 300 people were compensated for spiritual, physical or emotional abuse, including children, one in six of whom were sexually abused. The Jesus Fellowship Church, or Jesus Army, was founded in 1969 by Noel Stanton, a Baptist lay pastor and quickly turned into a commune with strict puritanical rules. People spent all their time on evangelism and it became known for its double decker bus taking members to towns where they would preach and leaflet. In 2013, stories of widespread abuse were discovered and many leaders stood down leaving a remainder who decided to close the church. A group of Trustees was appointed to wind up the administration and resolve the redress scheme involving money, apologies and counselling. It will continue til 2025 when the Jesus Fellowship Community Trust will close. Church Times report here
