Statement following attack at London Bridge
Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected by the terrorist stabbing attack at London Bridge on Friday afternoon in which two were killed by the attacker and several injured. We condemn, in the strongest terms, terrorism and the extremist ideologies that underpin it and we call on all to stand together and speak out in the strongest terms against them. With each terrorist attack in recent years, there has been horror and anger at the atrocity; condemnation; prayers and sympathies for those killed or injured; admiration for courage and resilience displayed; and a call to ‘stand together’. And where terrorists or extremists have drawn selectively on religious writings and history, there has been disavowal by faith communities of this evil twisting of elements of their traditions into distorted and dangerous forms to justify the unjustifiable. It is a matter of profound sadness and concern that voices of faith communities have to be heard again and again in the context of responses to terrorist attacks and also hate crime. There are so many important social justice issues on which their voices need to be heard as well as broader issues such about how we live together well as people of different faiths and beliefs in the UK. Yet we cannot remain silent in the face of terrible actions, with their impacts both on those directly affected and on our society more generally. We end, as we began, with thoughts and prayers for those killed, injured, bereaved and otherwise affected by the attack on Friday and a call to all to come together to stand together in the face of terrorism and to speak out in the strongest terms against it and against the extremist ideologies that underpin it. The Inter Faith Network Co-Chairs and Faith Communities Forum Moderators |
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