British Muslims Send Letter Denouncing Anti-Semitism to 1,000 Mosques
Posted Jan 16, 2009

British Muslims Send Letter Denouncing Anti-Semitism to 1,000 Mosques


More than 20 prominent British Muslims have signed a joint letter denouncing antisemitic attacks and called for continued Muslim vigilance against antisemitism. Some of the UK’s leading theologians, imams, writers, community activists and others have signed and circulated this message widely. It has been sent today, to coincide with Friday prayers, to nearly a thousand British mosques.

In the name of God, most compassionate, most merciful,

Dear Fellow Muslims,

We are deeply saddened to hear about antisemitic assaults on British Jews, and a recent arson attack on a London synagogue. Although the perpetrators are yet unknown, we unreservedly condemn attacks on innocent British citizens and the desecration of all places of worship.

The ongoing killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza by Israeli forces has angered us all.

However, this does not, and cannot, justify attacks on our fellow citizens of Jewish faith and background here in Britain.

Most Muslims are completely against such behaviour. However, we call on all Muslims to continue to remain vigilant against attempts to bring our own faith and community into disrepute. British Jews should not be held responsible for the actions of the Israeli
government.

Yours in Islam and peace,

Shaikh Abdal-Hakim Murad, Cambridge

Shaikh Mawlana Shahid Raza, Leicester and London

Shaikh Sayyid-Mohammed Musawi, London

Shaikh Ali Qadiri, Barking

Shaikh Mufti Barkatulla, London

Shaikh Dr Musharraf Hussain MBE, Nottingham

Shaikh Dr Usama Hasan, London

Shaikh Bilal Abdullah, London

Shaikh Aftab Ahmad Malik, Bristol

Shaikh Irfan Chishti MBE, Rochdale

Dr Tahir Abbas, Birmingham

Navid Akhtar, London

Parvin Ali OBE, Leicester

Kamran Fazil, Birmingham

Rokhsana Fiaz, London

Ed Husain, London

Azeem Ibrahim, Glasgow

Maajid Nawaz, London

Dr Zahoor Qureshi, London

Usman Raja, Berkshire

Yasmin Sheikh MBE, London

Zeshan Zafar, London