15th February 2015
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) today condemned a week of violence inspired by hate. It began with the attack and murder of three young Americans in Chapel Hill in North Carolina, apparently attacked because of their Muslim faith, and it ended last night with the attack on a synagogue and a free speech event in Copenhagen. The week also included the brutal murder of Mustafa Mattan in Ottawa.
The MCB condemns this violence. Such attacks reflect the worst of our society and come as the destructive climate of hate continues to pervade our discourse. When left unfettered, the scourge of Islamophobia and anti-semitism has led to violent attacks against places of worship and verbal assaults in the UK, as well as some of the tragedies we have seen in the last week.
Dr. Shuja Shafi, the Secretary General of the MCB, called for a change in the discourse around hate: “The status quo is unacceptable. Inciting hatred against the other, whoever that may be, provides fodder for those who wish to sow division and fear but we must deny them that luxury. The best way to defeat their hatred is to build even stronger bonds between communities here in Britain and fight against Islamophobia, anti-semitism and hate, wherever it is and whoever the perpetrator may be.”
The MCB calls on politicians and the media worldwide to be consistent in their response to terror, irrespective of the perpetrator or victim.
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Notes to Editors
The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK’s largest Muslim umbrella body with over 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools.
For further information please contact:
The Muslim Council of Britain
PO Box 57330
London
E1 2WJ
Tel: 0845 26 26 786
Fax: 0207 247 7079
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