Jewish and Muslim leaders build bridges between faiths
- Published
BBC journalist Jessica Ure talks to imam Sabah Ahmedi
Leaders from the Muslim and Jewish communities in London are trying to build bridges between their faiths after a rise in both Islamophobia and antisemitism.
Imam Sabah Ahmedi will visit a synagogue to open his fast.
In return, the head of London's JW3 Jewish community centre, Raymond Simonson, will speak at an Iftar - the meal eaten after a day of fasting.
It comes after the government allocated funding to increase security.
Muslim spaces have had £117m made available for the purpose - and last month £70m was dedicated to protect Jewish-specific spaces. The package to tackle anti-Muslim hate is larger than that given to the Community Security Trust to cover Jewish facilities because of the higher Muslim population and a larger number of sites to cover.
Aged 30, Sabah Ahmedi is one of Britain's youngest imams. The Ahmadi cleric said the current situation of intolerance was "unprecedented" in his experience. They already have round-the-clock security at his mosque.
Meet one of Britain’s youngest imams
"I know people who wear the headscarf who are scared to go out now because they know Islamophobia has increased.
"Some of our mosques have been vandalised. We've had windows smashed. I have been subject to some of that abuse online and it's not nice to face."
Imam Ahmedi uses his social media to help people better understand Islam
Imam Ahmedi, who uses his social media to help people to better understand Islam, says online abuse has also increased dramatically.
"The comments that you'll see here are shocking.
"I say 'shocking', but I'm actually used to it. Some people say Islam doesn't belong in Europe. One-third of Britons feel Islam threatens the British way of life.
"The only way forward is by bringing people from different faiths together to have open conversation and dialogue.
"It is the only way we can remove misconceptions."
Raymond Simonson is the CEO of the JW3 Jewish community centre in north London
The number of recorded incidents of Islamophobia and antisemitism in London has increased dramatically since 7 October.
Raymond Simonson, the CEO of a Jewish cultural centre in north London, says the money for enhanced security is welcome but "unfortunately it doesn't go far enough. We still have to find another £450,000 a year."
He added: "In my lifetime there has never been anything like this. People went from feeling shocked when they woke up to the news on 7 October, through to feeling scared.
"The level of reported incidents of antisemitism is higher than it's ever been.
"It has an effect on people: 'Shall I take that journey? Should my child take off their blazer if they go to a Jewish school? Should I take off my star of David, my Magen David?'"
Mr Simonson says now is "absolutely" the time to repair any divisions between Jews and Muslims.
"Especially at a time of economic crisis, it's always people of colour, Jews and Muslims who suffer the most; the most racism, the most attacks.
"So I'm really honoured to be invited to an Iftar this week."
Jessica Ure's report can be seen on Politics London on Sunday, and afterwards on the BBC iPlayer.
Correction 4th July: When referring to funds allocated by the government to increase security in Muslim and Jewish spaces, this article inaccurately said that Muslim spaces have had £170m made available for the purpose. In fact the figure is £117m and so we have amended this line in the story. A previous version of the article also described these funds as proportionate to the size of each community. Although the package to tackle anti-Muslim hate is larger because of the higher Muslim population and a larger number of sites to cover, it is not accurate to describe these allocations as proportionate and so this line has been removed from the story.
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