CHURCH LEADERS UNITE AGAINST TERRORISM IN THE WAKE OF WOOLWICH TRAGEDY

ABOVE: Swaleh Ahmed, the imam of Woolwich Mosque, speaks to the media after the murder of Lee Rigby

The Muslim communities of Britain, like the rest of the country, are shocked and appalled by the horrific murder in Woolwich.

Ibrahim Mogra from the Muslim Council of Britain

25th May 2013

By Richard Spillet

CHURCH leaders came together yesterday in a united show against terrorism.

Religious groups met before condemning the horrific killing of ­Drummer Lee Rigby.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby vowed that the Woolwich attack would not divide the British people.

He said faith groups were horrified by the barbaric act, adding: “This is very much a time for communities to come together.”

The head of the Church of England spoke in Leicester after meeting Ibrahim Mogra, from the Muslim Council of Britain, and other religious figures.

Mr Mogra added: “The Muslim communities of Britain, like the rest of the country, are shocked and appalled by the horrific murder in Woolwich.

“The murderers chanted slogans during their heinous crime, claiming to do it in God’s name – far from it.

“As our Prime Minister rightly concluded, this is a betrayal of Islam. Indeed, this is a truly barbaric act that has no basis in Islam and we condemn it utterly.”

The leaders met as 100 top Muslim clerics slammed the attack in a joint letter.

Senior Imams from across Britain stated: “We condemn this heinous atrocity in the strongest possible terms. It is a senseless act of pure depravity worthy of nothing but contempt. There can be no justification for murder.”

The show of unity came after two men were charged over attacks on mosques in Gillingham, Kent, and in Braintree, Essex.

A blazing bottle was also thrown at an Islamic centre in Milton Keynes, Bucks.

After demonstrations in Woolwich on Monday, local Mayor of Greenwich Angela Cornforth said the London borough will not be divided.