Muslim leaders issue solidarity message to British Jews after antisemitic attacks
EXCLUSIVE: Open letter says Muslims and Jews must stand together against hatred and division
A group of prominent British Muslim voices has issued an open letter expressing solidarity with the Jewish community following recent antisemitic attacks in the UK, saying British Jews should know: “we are right here beside you.”
The letter, coordinated by British Future and shared with Jewish News, brings together more than 30 Muslim leaders, imams, academics, youth workers and community figures from across Britain.
Among the signatories are Qari Asim, Julie Siddiqi, Nasser Kurdy and Musharraf Hussain.
In the letter, the signatories expressed “sadness, solidarity and empathy” with British Jews and pledged to help combat antisemitism in the UK.
They wrote: “We all have a responsibility to ensure that arguments about British politics, or passionately held views about the Israel-Gaza war and wider conflicts across the region, remain within proper boundaries separating democratic political voice and protest from hatred and prejudice towards Jews in Britain.”
The group also stressed the importance of stronger Muslim-Jewish engagement and dialogue.
“Above all, we commit ourselves to championing, within and across all of our communities, the dialogue and contact we need to live well together as neighbours in our shared country,” the letter stated.
It added: “As Muslims, we understand how rising prejudice, hostility and hate crimes feel.”
Avaes Mohammad, who coordinated the letter, said many Muslims wanted to publicly show support for Britain’s Jewish community following the recent rise in antisemitic incidents.
He said: “Many British Muslims want to reach out to members of our Jewish community in solidarity after the recent antisemitic attacks.
“When I attended the vigil at Heaton Park synagogue last autumn, I was struck by how warmly that gesture was received.
“So this letter isn’t just saying ‘not in our name’. We want to tell Jews in Britain we know how this feels, and we are right here beside you.
“However complex and contested political arguments become, we remain committed to the safety and dignity of our Jewish neighbours.”
Julie Siddiqi said: “More and more Muslims I speak to are reaching out, asking to be more involved in bringing Jews and Muslims together. The hate and division we see today do not sit right with any of us. We need to come together and stand in solidarity.”
The letter comes amid continuing concern over rising antisemitism in Britain since the 7 October attacks and the war in Gaza.
Other signatories include representatives from organisations including Faiths Forum for London, the Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre, the British Fatwa Council and New Horizons in British Islam.
The full list of signatories was: Dr Nafeez Ahmed; Imam Qari Asim MBE; Dr Amjad Aziz, Imam & Director of Radio Dawn; Samir Bhamra, Writer/Director, British South Asian Bridgers Project; Aisha Choudhry; Farzana Chaudry; H Dadabhoy; Mustafa Field OBE, Faiths Forum for London; Imam Asim Hafiz, Imam and Muslim Chaplain; Rabiha Hannan, Trustee, New Horizons in British Islam; Imam Attiq Hussain, Oldham Ullama Council; Kaleem Hussain; Khalid Hussain; Prof. Dr Musharraf Hussain OBE DL, CEO Karimia Institute, Nottingham; Nasar Iqbal; Asma Jahan; Shaheen Khan, Actor, British South Asian Bridgers Project; Dr Nasser Kurdy MBE, The Rabbi and The Imam Initiative; Imam Mohammad Aasim Mirza, Ministry of Islamic Affairs; Dr Avaes Mohammad, British Future; Dr Mohammad Munir, Imam & Director, British Fatwa Council; Furqan Naeem, Chair, Young Manchester; Shazia Nazir; Shabina Qayyum; Nasir Rafiq, founder, Dua Governance; Raheed Saleem; Abdulrehman Sayed, CEO, Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre; Julie Siddiqi MBE; Naved Siddiqi, Trustee, New Horizons in British Islam; Ibrahim Syed; Shaukat Warraich, CEO, Faith Associates; Rukhsana Yaqoob; Mufti Qasim Zia, Imam, East Birmingham Central Mosque.
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