Faith leaders express ‘horror’ at rioting

Faith leaders have written a joint letter condemning hatred and violence after greater than every week of riots across parts of the UK. 

In a joint letter to The Times, they express “horror” at the violence while praising individuals who have volunteered to wash up streets and repair the damage to their communities.

The faith leaders call the rioting a “stain on our national moral conscience” and speak of their commitment to a “constructive and compassionate” dialogue on immigration. 

The letter was signed by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Chief Imam and Director General of Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society, Imam Dr Sayed Razawi, and the Chairman of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, Imam Qari Asim. 

“Over the previous few days we have now watched in horror as a small minority has brought hatred, violence and vandalism to towns and cities across the country,” they write.

“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 progressed 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.” 

The violence has affected many towns and cities across England in addition to Belfast in Northern Ireland. The Welsh First Minister has said that Wales is just not being complacent in regards to the threat of violence spreading to there, while in Scotland, which has also thus far remained peaceful, Scottish First Minister John Swinney has been meeting faith and community representatives this week. 

Thousands of riot police are being deployed because the violence shows no signs of abating, with reports of over 100 more far-Right demonstrations planned.