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UK faith leaders urge unity against hate on October 7 anniversary

by Kelly Valencia

UK faith leaders have urged the public to reject "prejudice and hatred in all its forms" as they marked a year of suffering due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. The past year has seen over 2,600 protests in the UK, leading to around 550 arrests, with the cost of policing exceeding £46 million.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev Justin Welby, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, and Imam Qari Asim, signed an open letter expressing grief over the violence and calling for unity against antisemitism and Islamophobia. They emphasised the need for shared humanity and solidarity across communities.

The letter reads: "It has been a year since the brutal Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel, and the start of this devastating war in Gaza and beyond.  

"During this time, the scale of human suffering has been horrific. As people of faith from Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities in the UK, while we may hold different views about aspects of the conflict, we stand united in our grief and in our belief that our shared humanity must bring us together. 

"Our faiths and our humanity teach us that we should mourn for all the innocent people who have lost their lives. 

"In these challenging times, we must also reject those who seek to divide us. Anti-Jewish hate and anti-Muslim hate have no place in the UK today. We must stand together against prejudice and hatred in all its forms.

"The UK has long been a model of different communities and religions getting along with each other. We commit to upholding and nurturing this proud tradition."

The Community Security Trust reported 5,583 antisemitic incidents between October 2023 and September 2024, while Tell Mama recorded 4,971 anti-Muslim incidents, both at record levels. Iman Atta of Tell Mama called for more efforts to challenge stereotypes and counter the rise in hate.

Various cross-community events are planned to mark the conflict’s anniversary, including gatherings in London and Oxford aimed at fostering remembrance and peace.

The UK police continue to support peaceful protests while urging organisers to engage with local authorities.

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