RMC Briefing: Rebuilding communities after the riots

09/24/24 • 56 min

Community and faith leaders from towns and cities across England have spoken of the importance of free and open discussion on the causes of the riots this summer. In a Religion Media Centre briefing, bringing together participants from our 11 Creating Connections events, they spoke of their local efforts to provide opportunities for dialogue between faith groups and their need for help in finding methods that work well.

There was agreement that superficial large meetings were not enough. Instead, deep conversations are needed to understand the anger, disenfranchisement and frustration which caused the unrest. In particular, the sense of injustice among young people needs to be addressed.

While welcoming signals from government that it is committed to working alongside faith groups on its five missions, such as safe streets or healthcare, they warned against being co-opted and said greater responsibility required proper resourcing.

Hosted by Leo Devine, speakers included Rev Ian Rutherford, Methodist minister in Manchester; Manjit Kaur of SACRE Coventry; Simon Phillips, Leeds Jewish community; Rev Joanne Thorns, Communities Together Durham; Professor Jagbir Jhutti Johal, Birmingham; Steve Botham, Birmingham.

For further information on RMC briefings: [email protected]

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Contact Information

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For further information on RMC briefings: [email protected]

Links

Website: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/

X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmw

Contact Information

[email protected]
(+44) 0203 970 0709

Previous Episode

RMC Briefing: Faith and community groups rallying at Grenfell Tower fire were "best in humanity"

The report into the fire at Grenfell Tower, which claimed 72 lives in 2017, says the disaster was a devastating critique of failure, incompetence, dishonesty and greed at all levels, in government and business. In a section on how religion was part of the story, the report said Muslims felt abandoned and neglected by the council. But there was one chink of hope. Faith and community organisations, which filled the vacuum left by the authorities and offered sanctuary and support, were described as "the best in humanity".

In this Religion Media Centre briefing, faith leaders who were there on the front line offer their response to the report's findings and explain how collaboration between the faith groups emerged as people flocked to their buildings for help.

Hosted by Ruth Peacock, the speakers are: -Bishop Graham Tomlin, formerly Bishop of Kensington -Abdurahman Sayed, CEO Al-Manaar, Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre -Rev Alan Everett, former vicar at St. Clement's Church, Notting Hill, and author of 'After the Fire' -Eddie Tulasiewicz, head of policy and public affairs, National Churches Trust -Nasima Khanom, psychotherapist working with survivors and relatives

Bishop Graham Tomlin, formerly Bishop of Kensington
Abdurahman Sayed, CEO Al-Manaar, Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre
Rev Alan Everett, former vicar at St. Clement's Church, Notting Hill, and author of 'After the Fire'
Eddie Tulasiewicz, head of policy and public affairs, National Churches Trust
Nasima Khanom, psychotherapist working with survivors and relatives
Abdulsami Arjumand, Muslim Charities Forum

For further information on RMC briefings: [email protected]

Links

Website: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/

X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmw

Contact Information

[email protected]
(+44) 0203 970 0709

Next Episode

RMC Briefing: Impact of 7 October attack and aftermath on British Muslims and Jews

One year on from Hamas' attack on Israel, we brought together British Muslim and Jewish community leaders to find out how the war had impacted life in this country.

Their discussion illustrates how each group "mirrored each other". Both communities have faced spikes in hate crime, leading to feelings across the board that Britain is not a safe place anymore. Social media was "absolutely bitter" and physical violence culminated in riots targeting mosques across England. In particular, speakers gave examples of the way children have been caught up in the hatred, with swastikas painted on school desks, or Muslim children name-called and ostracised.

But both communities have found some hope, in quiet acts of kindness from one faith group to another, stronger relationships of support, and lighter moments of friendship.

Leo Devine hosted this discussion with:

Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, convenor of the Reform Beit Din, the Jewish law court for Reform Judaism in Britain
Dr Jonathan Boyd, Executive Director of Jewish Policy Research, on mits report suggesting a culture of ‘ambient antisemitism’ since 7 October
Dave Rich, director of policy at the Community Security Trust, which provides security advice and training for Jewish organisations
Ibrahim Syed, a co-ordinator at the Liverpool Region Mosque Network and founder of Wirral Deen Centre
Sheila el Dieb Bristol Muslim Strategic Leadership group, engaged in community relations work with the City Council and police liaison
Mohammed Ali Amla, from Solutions Not Sides

For further information about RMC briefings: [email protected]

Links

Website: https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/

X: https://twitter.com/RelMedCentre/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/religion-media-centre/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthZf6RVTqJki6oTQTB6qmw

Contact Information

[email protected]
(+44) 0203 970 0709