The Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester
Established to develop the cultural and social ties between the Muslim and Jewish communities of Greater Manchester
23 May 2013
The brutal and senseless killing of Drummer Lee Rigby has caused great sadness in our communities. It is always difficult to know how to respond to such acts but we join our prayers alongside those of his local community in Middleton for his family and friends and all who are offering care and support at this time.
Over the course of the day, faith and interfaith leaders from Greater Manchester have contacted each other to put together a response from across our diverse communities. We drafted a statement, below, and you will see that many leaders of our communities have put their names to it. Many more would probably wish to do so but may not have seen it yet.
"We, as representatives of many of Greater Manchester’s faith communities, deplore the terrible attack that took place yesterday in Woolwich. We pray for the victim of this attack, his family and all who witnessed this tragic event. We call for peaceful responses that repudiate hatred and build bridges across our communities.
All our religions hold the sanctity of human life as a core principle. No grievance can justify such a barbaric assault that has cost a young man his life. Terrorism has no place on our streets.
We will redouble our efforts to work for peace, love, understanding and hope."
Ann Angel
Member of Jewish Community and Altrincham Interfaith GroupCatherine Pridgeon
Altrincham Interfaith GroupRev Danny Crosby
Unitarian Minister at Dunham Road Unitarian Chapel, Altrincham and Queens Road Unitarian Free Church, UrmstonCouncillor Afzal Khan CBE
Chair of Manchester Council of MosquesMohammed Amin
Co-Chair Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater ManchesterJonny Wineberg
Vice-Chair Faith Network 4 Manchester, Co-Chair Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater ManchesterHeather Fletcher
Company Secretary Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater ManchesterBob Day
Chair, Faith Network 4 ManchesterCharles Kwaku-Odoi
Faith Network 4 Manchester, Command Prayer Centre Ministries Int.Qaisra Shahraz
Faith Network 4 ManchesterRavi Kakkar and Poonam Kakkar
Hindu representatives ManchesterFrank Baigel
President, Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & RegionSharon Bannister
Vice-President, Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & RegionWarren Elf
Faith Network 4 Manchester and Salam ShalomIrfan Syed
UK Unity GroupCarolyn Jones
Hon Sec of Altrincham Interfaith Group and member of Dunham Road Unitarian ChapelRabbi Haim Shalom
Rabbi of Menorah Synagogue, Cheshire Reform CongregationRev John Rafferty
Chair, Altrincham Interfaith GroupLucille Cohen
Altrincham Interfaith Group, former President of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater ManchesterGordon Levy
Chan Parmar
Bolton Interfaith CouncilAltrincham Muslim Association
Michael Cooke, Philip Austin, Tony McNeile, Faruk Ali, Bolton Interfaith Council and The Faith Leaders Forum of Bolton
Faiths United (Tameside)
Suresh Mehta
Jain CommunityCouncillor Nilofar Siddiqi
Sufi Muslim communityDavid Arnold (former President of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester) and Region & Revd Canon Steve Williams (Secretary of Greater Manchester Faith Community Leaders)
Co-chairs Manchester Council of Christians and JewsRevd Richard Church
Moderator, North West Synod, United Reformed ChurchRevd Keith Davies
Chairman, Manchester and Stockport District, Methodist ChurchRevd Paul Martin
Chairman, Bolton and Rochdale District, Methodist Church
Follow @MJF_Manchester
The Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester
Established to develop the cultural and social ties between the Muslim and Jewish Communities of Greater Manchester