Humanists speak out against antisemitism in the wake of attacks on Jewish community

The organisation representing Humanists in Britain has published an open letter condemning rising antisemitism and calling for solidarity with British Jews, saying that they “cannot be bystanders to this situation”.

Humanists UK’s statement, published on Wednesday, addressed the “five-week spate of attacks that has since included petrol bombs thrown at synagogues, and a double stabbing on a London street that the UK government has declared a terrorist incident”.

Janet Ellis, the organisation’s President, and Andrew Copson, its Chief Executive, said: “Where the easy thing is to look away, we should make a point of looking. Where the easy thing is to soften our language, we should be exact about what is happening. And where the easy thing is to let the equivocations pass – in conversation, online, in public life – we should call them out. Jews in Britain should not be left to fight this alone and nor should the UK Government.”

The statement went on to address “our Jewish friends and colleagues: Humanists UK stands with you in this endeavour. A society that fails to protect you is one that has lost sight of its moral compass. We must work together to rebuild it.”

The group described antisemitism as “a pernicious and perennial hatred, but the flames of this hatred are being stoked and fanned now by a public discourse that equates the fact of simply being Jewish (either ethnically, culturally, or religiously) with responsibility for the actions of the government of Israel”. It went on to say that “Equating Jews because they are Jewish with the government of Israel is racist”.

Last month the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally wrote that “we must stand together against the virulence of antisemitism that brings only violence, fear and hatred.

“We must face this challenge together across society and within all our communities. I want to assure the Jewish community of my wholehearted support, solidarity and prayers.”

In the wake of the stabbing attack in Golders Green last week, several prominent Imams, signatories to the Jewish-Muslim Drumlanrig Accords in 2025, also published a statement, saying: “We note with grave concern the violent attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green, London. We extend our thoughts and solidarity to those injured, their families and the wider Jewish community.

“Any act of violence or intimidation directed at individuals because of their faith or identity is utterly unacceptable. Incidents which create fear within communities, particularly near places of worship or religious gathering, undermine the safety and cohesion of our shared society.”