“Violence serves the cause of terrorists.” Nichols, “I’m horrified”. The Muslim Council denounces a rise in islamophobia. The Jewish community condemns the Finsbury Park attack.
“The appalling attack on Muslims in Finsbury Park is an attack on us all and on the culture and values of our country,” and violence “serves only the interests of those who would terrorize others.” Anglican primate Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, commented the recent terrorist act, which saw a van ploughing into group of pedestrians outside the Muslim Welfare House on Seven Sisters Road, not far from the Finsbury Park mosque in London, leaving one person dead and ten other Injured, two of which are serious. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster is said to be “ appalled at the deliberate attack on people leaving late night prayers in Finsbury Park”. Condemnation of the attack from the British Jewish community as well. The British Muslim Council denounces the rise of Islamophobia in the country.
“The attack at Finsbury Park mosque is abhorrent. We stand in solidarity with our Muslim friends and pray for the bereaved and injured,” the Anglican Primate wrote on Twitter. And in a note, he exclaimed, “Freedom of worship without fear is a right we cherish as a nation and was won at great human costs over many years. The appalling attack on Muslims in Finsbury Park is an attack on us all and on the culture and values of our country. At a time when we are all mourning the loss of so many precious people in London and Manchester, this brutal attack can only compound the trauma. Violence only begets more violence, it only serves the interest of those who want to terrorize others. This wanton and cruel act can produce no good and cannot be justified or excused. In exactly the same way as previous recent attacks - Justin Welby concludes - it is a crime against God and against humanity.”
“Together with people all over this country, I am appalled at the deliberate attack on people leaving late night prayers in Finsbury Park” Cardinal Vincent Nichols, archbishop of Westminster, commented on his side. “I pray for all who have been injured and affected by this deliberate act of violence. In particular, I pray for the person who has been killed. Every one of us must repudiate hatred and violence from our words and actions. We must all be builders of understanding, compassion and peace.”
Harun Khan, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, condemned the attack in a note, denouncing that “over the past weeks and months, Muslims have been enduring many incidents of Islamophobia and this is the most violent manifestation to date. Since we are approaching the end of the month of Ramadan with the Eid al-Fit celebration and many Muslims going to their local mosques, we expect the authorities to urgently increase security outside the mosques. Muslim communities have been called upon to increase the actions needed to counteract the growth of hate-crimes for many years and now action must be taken to counteract not only these incidents but also the enormous and worrying growth of islamophobia. Many will feel terrified, no doubt angry and saddened by what happened this night. We call for calm while investigations determine exactly the facts and in these last days of Ramadan we pray for those who have been affected by this injustice.”
Condemnations of the “vile attack on Muslim worshippers” also by the British Jewish community.” The executive director of the Jewish Leadership Council, Simon Johnson said, “To target those at worship or observing their faith is a betrayal of our British values of tolerance, respect and kindness, on which our society is built. The chairman of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Johnatan Arkush, also condemned the assassination, recalling that recently the Jewish community joined Muslim and others up and down the country for the Great Get Together in memory of Jo Cox, who was assassinated last year by a fanatic who opposed her openings towards the Muslims. “All good people must stand together and join in rejecting hatred and violence from wherever it comes. The way forward is to strengthen the moderate majority and repudiate and marginalize extremists of all kinds.”
