THE UK needs a “moral vision” to maneuver past the rioting that has erupted in towns and cities across the country this week, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.
Violence broke out in London, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Rotherham, Nottingham, Belfast, and elsewhere over the weekend — and spread rapidly to other areas this week — after the murder of three girls at a children’s dance party in Southport on 29 July (News, 2 August).
Speaking on the Radio 4 Today programme on Tuesday, Archbishop Welby said that, while he had not experienced what the families in Southport were going through, he and his wife had lost a baby. “All I remember is that it’s essentially the most overwhelming, dominating thing that might occur to you. The whole world changes.
“And the very last thing you would like is for this to be instrumentalised by people far-off selecting to show this right into a reason behind criminality, rioting — not protest, that’s something completely different — of attempting to cause a breakdown of unity.”
He said: “What you would like is your mates and family and community, as Southport is doing, surrounding you, supporting you, loving you.”
Mosques, and hotels during which refugees and asylum-seekers are being temporarily housed, were among the many buildings targeted by rioters.
Police forces reported that lots of of arrests had been made, including for and in reference to serious violent disorder and racially aggravated assault, after police cars were set alight and dozens of law enforcement officials have been injured within the violence.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, told the BBC on Tuesday that many would face immediate imprisonment. “There must be little question about that. They are going to prison. We are willing to have a look at terrorism offences. I’m aware of not less than one instance where that is occurring.”
The protests, which by Tuesday had spread to other cities, including Plymouth, Weymouth, and Birmingham, have been triggered by far-right groups, who’ve targeted immigrants, and spread false rumours online that the 17-year-old man charged with the murders — named in court last week as Axel Muganwa Rudakubana — was an asylum-seeker. Merseyside Police confirmed last week that he had been born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents. A plea and trial preparation hearing has been set for Friday 25 October at Liverpool Crown Court.
Archbishop Welby said of the misinformation: “What is occurring here is manipulation — we all know that — by people on social media, people abroad, and that should be strongly resisted. The reality is that the one who [allegedly] attacked these little girls in Southport was born within the UK, he was not an asylum-seeker. . .
“There is a use of individuals in this manner which is essentially the most ridiculous, appalling, and immoral thing. . . They [the rioters] discuss defending this country’s Christian values. . . Jesus said: ‘Love God, love your neighbour, love your enemy.’ And when he was asked who your neighbour is, the instance he gave was someone who had been an historic enemy of the Jews.”
Speaking of the behaviour of the rioters, Archbishop Welby said: “This is just not the UK, it is just not British, it is just not English — they defile the flag that they wrap themselves in. . . Protest is nice and is correct, and is key to all our freedoms, but peaceful protest can have tens of 1000’s of times the impact that this violence is having.”
Being marginalised, and living in areas of deprivation and high unemployment “doesn’t in any way justify this violence”, he said. “Quite the reverse. But it does justify peaceful protest and that can make people listen.”
He continued: “We need an ethical vision for this country, which does exist, which is peaceful and united – we’re incredibly diverse but we persist with each other, and that we’re able to leading the world and sharing the common good on this country.”
Police were reacting to the outbreaks, and what was not being reported, he suggested, was “the extraordinary cohesion and caring for neighbour that is happening all around the country within the wake of those riots and face-to-face with these riots. . .
“We are seeing the Church, the churches, and the faiths, and other people of no faith turning out, cleansing up the streets, supporting people.”
The Archbishop, with other faith leaders, co-signed a letter published in The Times on Tuesday condemning the targeting of Muslim communities. “Over the previous few days we’ve watched in horror as a small minority has brought hatred, violence and vandalism to towns and cities across the country. We have seen anti-Muslim hatred and the targeting of mosques; asylum-seekers and refugees attacked; violence directed towards the police and personal property, all of that are a stain on our national moral conscience.
“Every British citizen has a right to be respected and a responsibility to respect others, in order that together we will construct a cohesive and harmonious society for all.
“As faith leaders, we salute the various individuals who have advanced to repair damage and restore their neighbourhoods. We pledge to work with government and all sections of society towards a constructive and compassionate dialogue on immigration and social cohesion.”
It was also signed by the RC Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols; the Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis; the Chief Imam and director general of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society, Imam Dr Sayed Razawi; and the chairman of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, Imam Qari Asim.
The owner of X, Elon Musk, has been criticised by the Prime Minister for suggesting in a post that “civil war is inevitable” following the UK unrest. A spokesperson for Sir Keir said that there was “no justification” for Mr Musk’s comments, and that social media firms must be doing more to diffuse tensions.
Responding to the criticism on the Today programme, Archbishop Welby pointed to the recent transfer of power after the General Election: “Between the closing of the polls and a recent Prime Minister peacefully in place was 14 hours, and a few gracious words from the outgoing Prime Minister — that’s about as removed from talking about civil war because it is feasible to get.”
The Government, he said, were “responding extremely well. . . They are speaking of peace, they’re condemning violence, as all of us do.” But longer-term considering was needed, he said, “which can come when this dies down, which it very shortly will”.
