Faith leaders unite ‘to resist and overcome’ terrorism

BRITAIN’S most senior faith leaders said they were united in “resisting and overcoming the evil of terrorism” in the wake of the bombings in London.

Christian, Jewish and Muslim figureheads stood side by side to make the joint statement at Lambeth Palace, in central London, about the implications of Thursday’s terror attack.

The five faith leaders in attendance were the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the Free Churches Moderator Dr David Coffey, the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth Sir Jonathan Sacks, and the Chair of the Council of Mosques and Imams, Sheikh Dr Zaki Badawi.

The Chief Rabbi began the joint statement: “As religious leaders from several different faiths, we came together this morning to pay tribute to the courage, commitment and sacrifice by which the evil of Nazism was resisted and ultimately overcome 60 years ago.”

Dr Badawi said: “Our relationship is stronger in a time of crisis.

“Anyone claiming to commit a crime in the name of religion does not necessarily justify his position in the name of that religion. People do things in the name of Islam which are totally contrary to Islam.”

He added that the Council of Mosques and Imams would be taking a “proactive” approach in combating terrorism. He said they would go to those groups and explain to them the true nature of Islam and argue to them about the theological basis for their hatred and anger.

Dr Badaawi continued: “We stand together now for a further purpose: to express our shared commitment to resisting and overcoming the evil of terrorism, which the events of recent days here in London have brought home to us afresh and with such devastating clarity.

“It is an evil that cannot be justified and that we utterly condemn and reject.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of people prayed for those killed in the attack in a service held yesterday just yards from the scene of the number 30 bus explosion.

Police said that Community relations in Britain are “reassuringly calm” in the wake of Thursday’s terror attacks.

The Association of Chief Police Officers said that incidents reported by individual police forces included arson attacks on mosques which caused “little damage”. In addition, there was evidence of some verbal abuse in the street, and some criminal damage to cars, businesses and homes.