#No2H8 Crime Awards: Rabbi Wittenberg and Imam Bocoum awarded

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg and Dr Imam Mamadou Bocoum set a fine example to anti-racism campaigners everywhere by collecting their award hand in hand.

The pair exhibited a united front as they collected the Sheikh Abdullah Award for Intercultural Dialogue .

Reflecting on the moment, Bocoum – who is a lecturer in Islamic Studies, a Board member of the Shariah Council UK and an interfaith consultant – told Jewish News: “I was humbled to win this award with Rabbi Jonathan, who is truly a wonderful human being. We both insisted that the other should be the one to collect the award and so in the end we settled on heading up hand-in-hand!”

He added: “There would be Muslims who would disapprove of an imam holding hands with a rabbi, but also many who would say it is an amazing image,” he added. “We both get intimidated by our own communities, but we must not be silent and must work towards making the world a safer place.”

Wittenberg said: “My Jewishness is rooted in humanity, which is shared with people of all faiths and that needs to be expressed in a world which is increasingly divisive.”

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