OPINION: We must confront extremist ideology and antisemitism in Muslim communities

The attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur is not simply shocking – it is inhumane. To assault people as they gather in prayer on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar is an abomination not only on the Jewish community, but on all of us, on Britain as a nation.

First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers are with the families who are grieving and the communities now fearful of what the future holds. This is a time for compassion and solidarity. We must remember that behind the headlines are ordinary, decent people whose lives have been torn apart.

At moments like this, fear ripples across our nation. Fear of further attacks, fear for the safety of our loved ones, fear that violent extremists will use this horror to drive wedges between neighbours. There are British Jews who now feel unsafe in their own places of worship. The sad reality is, that for many British Jews, the rise in antisemitism has meant this has been the case for some time now. This should be unacceptable for all of us.

That is why we want to say clearly: we stand with the British Jewish community. We will not be divided or allow the forces of extremism to dictate who we are as a people. Britain is at its best when we stand shoulder to shoulder against hate, not when we retreat into our own silos. At the British Muslim Trust we stand with all victims of hate and will be here to support communities.

Though the police are continuing their investigations, the apparent Muslim background of the attacker is something we can’t ignore as a community. The threat of antisemitism and extremist ideologies need to be confronted by us all, both within our communities and as a nation.

Ultimately, at stake is what kind of nation Britain will be in the years ahead. Will we allow a violent minority to pit us against each other? Or will we find the courage to turn toward one another, to protect our neighbours as ourselves, and to recognise that our diversity is our strength, not our weakness?

At the British Muslim Trust, I can say unequivocally that we stand ready to support anyone affected by hate. No place of worship, whether synagogue, church, mosque, temple or gurdwara should ever be a target for hate or violence. Together, we can show what it means to build institutions of solidarity. Together, we must show that while extremists seek to divide us, our shared humanity binds us more deeply than they can comprehend.

On a very personal note, I feel that those who brought carnage to Manchester believe our differences are weaknesses. They are wrong. Our differences are the wellspring of our strength as I know from my personal inter community experiences. If we come together across ethnicity and faith, Britain can, not only withstand this storm, but thrive. That is the choice before us today. And it is a choice we must make together.

• Shabir Randeree is chair of the British Muslim Trust