Joint Statement by the Board of Deputies of British Jews & Faith Matters Against the Abuse of Faith Based Symbols to Promote Hate in the UK
As Jews and Muslims we deplore the abuse of our faiths by those who purportedly write in their name to spread messages of hate, threat and contempt.
We hereby raise our voices against those who promote hate whether street based or on-line and who attempt to use symbolism, whether Jewish or Muslim, to promote fear of the other. We, Jews and Muslims, come from a shared family, and a shared tradition. Therefore, we state clearly, when groups that stir up prejudice, such as the English Defence League and all their sympathisers, use spurious Jewish themes or the Israeli flag to seek to garner Jewish support for their causes, they are acting in vain. When Islamic symbols are used by fringe groups to spread Anti-Semitic messages they are acting in vain.
Our common roots run too deep, our common concerns are too intertwined, our common respect too sincere, to be divided by ugly allegations of prejudice, and cowardly acts of violence.
We therefore stand together against all forms of hate and prejudice and believe that both Jewish and Muslim communities will work together for voices of moderation to prevail and that those who seek to divide by promoting hate will not succeed.
Signed,
The Board of Deputies of British Jews & Faith Matters
Supported by:
The Joseph Interfaith Foundation,
Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Rabbi – New North London Synagogue
The Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester