Statement following attack at London Bridge

Statement from the Inter Faith Network for the UK Co-Chairs and Faith Communities Forum Moderators

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 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

1 December 2019

Notes for editors

1. Press queries to the Inter Faith Network: email ifnet@interfaith.org.uk
2. The Inter Faith Network for the UK www.interfaith.org.uk was founded in 1987 to advance public knowledge and mutual understanding of the teachings, traditions and practices of the different faith communities in Britain and to promote good relations between people of different faiths in this country. It works with its member bodies and others to carry out these aims.
3. Member bodies of the Inter Faith Network include: national faith community representative bodies; national, regional and local inter faith bodies; and academic institutions and educational bodies concerned with inter faith issues. A list of member bodies can be found at http://www.interfaith.org.uk/members.
4. This statement can be found at http://interfaith.org.uk/resources/statements-and-messages and a copy of IFN’s statement making policy at https://www.interfaith.org.uk/uploads/Policy_on_making_of_statements.pdf
5. IFN published in 2017 the following relevant guidance: Looking After One Another: The Safety and Security of our Faith Communities, in partnership with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Home Office, the Crown Prosecution Service, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the National Fire Chiefs’ Council: https://www.interfaith.org.uk/resources/looking-after-one-another-the-safety-and-security-of-our-faith-communities-2017.  The document contains guidance on responding jointly to attacks on places of worship; working for calm at times of tension; and working to build on and strengthen existing good inter faith relations. It contains material about how and where to report hate incidents, cyber-attacks, and actual or suspected terrorist activity; where to find information on strengthening the security of buildings; and where to find information about working to build – and strengthen – good inter faith relations locally.