Thursday 23rd March 2017

17:00 hours

For immediate use

 From the Executive Secretary
Jonathan Gurling, 36 St Stephens Road, Selly Park, Birmingham B29
7RP
Tel: 0121 472 1593 Mobile: 07980 127628 Email:
jonathangurling@yahoo.co.uk
A STATEMENT FOLLOWING THE ATTACK IN WESTMINSTER
ON
WEDNESDAY 22ND MARCH 2017

The Birmingham Faith Leaders Group joins with the great majority of
people across the world in condemning the attack which took place on
Westminster Bridge and in the environs of the Palace of Westminster
yesterday. Many times in recent years we have, tragically, found it
necessary to issue condemnations of such action both in the United
Kingdom and abroad. The indiscriminate inflicting of terror, death and
serious injury upon innocent people pursuing their everyday lives is
indefensible and fundamentally contrary to the teachings of all our major
faiths.

We wish to offer our condolences to the families of those whose lives were
lost yesterday, and our prayers for them and for all who were caught up in
the horrific events. We also pay tribute to the public services which
protect us and we recognise with gratitude the dangers their work can
sometimes bring, as was so tragically demonstrated yesterday.

It has been disturbing today to learn of the apparent Birmingham

connection to this atrocity. We implore people to recognise that such
actions are taken by individuals, not by whole communities. We
completely reject any attempt to see an opportunity to blame any
particular community or faith, or any other community in this city, for the
perverted actions of an individual. All the religious communities have
demonstrated their strong ethos and tradition of service, as well as their
support for the rule of law and democratic values.

The cause of those who perpetrate such acts as this will be served if
communities start to distrust or turn upon one another. Every day in
Birmingham we see examples of creative, productive and supportive
relations across the faiths. We should unite in our condemnation and
strive to create better, stronger relations with fellow citizens, especially in
trying times. We are determined that the murderous actions of the very
few will not prevail over the goodness which lies at the basis both of our
local communities and the faiths we espouse.
Notes to Editors

The Birmingham Faith Leaders Group was formed in September

2001 as a direct response to acts of retaliation taken by some
against local Muslim and other targets in the immediate aftermath
of 9/11. Across its 15 year of existence the Group has always
worked to strengthen the good relations which exist between
different communities of faith in Birmingham.

The Group includes the principal leadership figures in the Buddhist,

Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities in
Birmingham.

The main purpose of the Group is to be a platform for mutual

support and understanding among those exercising leadership in
the six major faith communities, to promote and publicise good
relations and to advocate for faith, among the civic, commercial,
public, media and voluntary sectors in the city.