Religious leaders blast 'extremists' for stirring up hate in Wycombe

Today an 'Enough is Enough' protest is scheduled to take place in the high street at 1pm with Thames Valley Police warning they will take action against any violent disorder.

The protest is linked to a number of demonstrations that have occurred across England in recent days in the aftermath of the Southport killings which led to the death of three young girls.

Wycombe MP Emma Reynolds has written to Thames Valley Police about concerns around civil unrest as a result of these 'far-right' demonstrations. 

Local faith leaders from Wycombe, Buckinghamshire and West Hertfordshire say they deplore the attempts from 'some extremist groups to spread disinformation and stir up hate'.

In the hours after the Southport killings, a number of false rumours circulated widely online regarding the alleged attacker's religious background and ethnicity. 

There have been attacks on Mosques in the days since which have been linked to 'disinformation', according to charity Hope Not Hate.

In a joint statement shared with the Bucks Free Press, religious leaders said: "As faith and community leaders across Buckinghamshire and West Herts, we share the grief of the people of Southport following the tragic loss of life and pray for the recovery of those injured. We are committed together to building a strong, cohesive, and supportive community across our diverse region.

"We deplore the attempts by some extremist groups to spread disinformation and to stir up hatred and violence against particular groups. We condemn these actions unequivocally. We urge all community members to stand together, support one another, and reject any attempts to sow discord and intolerance."

(PA Graphics)

They continued: "We are grateful for the ongoing work of Thames Valley police in ensuring the safety of all.

"We encourage everyone in our community to verify reports on social media before circulating them further and to continue to demonstrate compassion, peace building, and mutual respect."

The letter was signed by:

- Revd James Dwyer, Vicar Christ Church Flackwell Heath

- Rabbi Neil Janes – South Bucks Jewish Community, Chauhdry M Shafique MBE – Chair of Council for Christian Muslim Relations High Wycombe

- The Reverend Nigel Spoor – Associate Priest, Benefice of Prestwood & Great Hampden

- Rev Vicky Burton – Curate at St Peter’s Aylesbury

- Revd. Paul Cudby – The Benefice of St. Paul’s with St. Mary’s, Wooburn

- Rev Canon Jane Banister – Tring Team Parish, Church of England

- The Revd Malcolm Chalmers – Vicar of the Benefice of Great Missenden with Ballinger and Little Hampden

- High Wycombe Quakers

- The Rev’d Peter Godden – St Dunstan’s Monks Risborough

- The Revd. Canon Robin Brown

Dozens more protests have been planned for this weekend in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

Campaign group Hope Not Hate has identified more than 30 protests planned across the UK over the next two days.

The knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on Monday which left three girls dead sparked violent disorder in some cities and towns in England.

Thousands of people turned out to pay their respects to the victims at a vigil in Southport on Tuesday evening, but violence later erupted outside a mosque in the town with 53 police officers and three police dogs injured.

The chairman of the mosque that was attacked in Southport on Tuesday said he feels like “the luckiest man in the whole country” after seeing the support of the local community.

Speaking outside the mosque on Friday evening, Ibrahim Hussein said: “On Tuesday night I thought I was the unluckiest man in the whole of the country.

“On Friday evening, I feel the luckiest man in the whole of the country.

“Look at all of these beautiful people. Look at all these faces, and different faiths. We have people here from the church and from the synagogue.”

He said he was “old friends” with some of the other faith leaders.

“But it is not about Southport Mosque, it is not about our suffering,” Mr Hussein said.

“We should have been focused all along about these poor people who have suffered in the most horrific way.

“And we should have been standing here giving them as much support as we can. We should have been standing here, praying for them, supporting them, focusing on them.

“Instead these people try to destroy what is so beautiful about our community.”

Mr Hussein also said “hate will never prevail”.

He said: “This beautiful community came together. And before we came to clean here, they were here six o’clock in the morning, cleaning and sweeping and asking what can they do in order to help. So we thank them very much.

“And the last word is to say they will never win. Hate will never prevail. Always love will prevail in the end.”

Before Mr Hussein spoke, Qari Asim, chair of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, read a joint statement outside the mosque standing alongside Pete Spiers, Archdeacon of Knowsley and Sefton and chair of the Sefton Faith Forum, and Rabbi Robyn Ashworth Steen, co-chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors in the UK.

Imam Sheik Ibrahim Hussein (James Speakman/PA)

He said the British Muslim community was “anxious” because of the planned protests this weekend before he started the statement.

The joint statement from the religious leaders said Islamophobia “must not be allowed to fester in our society”.

“There are some who have chosen to use what should be a moment of collective grief to sow the seeds of division, spread Islamophobia and attack the mosque here in Southport,” Mr Asim said, reading the joint statement.

“People from all of our faiths live as minority communities in different places across the world and understand what it is like to be persecuted.

“And in times like this, we must all stand together and not let division destroy community cohesion in our cities and towns.

“We stand here today, united in our grief and resolute in our condemnation of those opportunists who have shamelessly attempted to undermine and divide our communities.

“We believe that the community here in Southport, and the country as a whole, must now come together to challenge hatred based on people’s identities. In particular, the rising levels of Islamophobia must not be allowed to fester in our society.”

The Metropolitan Police said the force has “sufficient resources” in place to deal with protests in central London this weekend but officers have not been informed of a demonstration in response to the Southport stabbings.

It is understood that an ⁠extra 70 prosecutors will be on standby this weekend to charge people who set out to cause violent disorder.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister returned to Southport on Friday, visiting the town for the second time this week after Monday’s knife attack.

Sir Keir announced further support for Southport, including mental health support for those affected by the attack and a programme of events to help build community cohesion.

The 17-year-old charged with the murders of three girls in Southport appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, and was named as Axel Rudakubana, from Banks in Lancashire.

Court artist drawing of 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana (centre) covering his face as he appeared in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court. (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

He is charged with the murders of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.

Rudakubana is also charged with the attempted murders of yoga class instructor Leanne Lucas, businessman Mr Hayes and eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and with possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade.

He was remanded to youth detention accommodation and will next appear in court in October.