Drumlanrig Accords signatories issue joint response to Blackburn prayer room attack
Jewish and Muslim leaders behind landmark interfaith pact say sacred spaces must never become “targets of intimidation”
Jewish and Muslim faith leaders behind the Drumlanrig Accords have jointly condemned the alleged arson attack on a Muslim prayer room in Blackburn, describing it as an act that would leave communities across Britain feeling fearful and unsafe.
The statement, released by signatories to the landmark interfaith agreement, came days after masked men were allegedly caught on CCTV throwing incendiary devices into Café Raha’s Muslim prayer room in Roe Lee Park, Blackburn. Lancashire Police are continuing to investigate the incident.
Unlike previous responses issued separately by communal organisations, the new statement was signed collectively under the banner of the Drumlanrig Accords – the agreement reached in 2025 between senior Jewish and Muslim leaders aimed at strengthening interfaith cooperation and resisting hatred.
The signatories said they were “horrified” by reports of the attack.
“Whatever the investigation concludes, this was an act that will spread fear far beyond one building, leaving many Muslims feeling vulnerable and unsafe,” the statement said.
The group also directly referenced the language of the Accords, which were first developed during a retreat at Drumlanrig Castle in Scotland before being formally signed in London and later presented to King Charles at Buckingham Palace.
“The Drumlanrig Accords call on us to ‘hold the protected space around our differences’ and to refuse to allow tension or disagreement to become hatred and dehumanisation,” the statement continued. “That commitment matters most at moments like this.”
The leaders said they were standing “in solidarity” with Muslims in Blackburn and communities across the country who would have followed news of the attack “with fear and pain”.
“Places of prayer and gathering should never become targets of intimidation,” they added. “We reaffirm the values at the heart of the Drumlanrig Accords: dignity, solidarity and the responsibility to stand alongside one another when communities are under threat.”
The Drumlanrig Accords were signed by Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Rabbi Josh Levy, Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Senior Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Senior Rabbi Joseph Dweck and Senior Rabbi Moshe Rubin, who was represented at the signing by Rabbi Elchonen Feldman.
The Muslim signatories included Chief Imam Dr Sayed Razawi, Senior Imam Qari Asim, Imam Sheikh Muhammad Ismail DL, Head Imam Dr Sheikh Khalifa Ezzat, Naushad Jivraj, represented by Aliya Nasser, and His Excellency Kinana Jamaluddin Bhai Sahib.
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