Over 50 individuals who have survived terrorist attacks, such as the bombings at Manchester Arena and the attacks at London Bridge, have authored a public letter cautioning politicians against equating British Muslims with extremism.
This statement features individuals who have signed it, such as Rebecca Rigby, the wife of soldier Lee Rigby who was killed in 2013 in southeast London, and Paul Price, whose partner Elaine McIver passed away in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. They urge for caution when making statements that may benefit terrorists.
Individuals who have lived through acts of terrorism in the UK and abroad, originating from Islamic extremist beliefs, acknowledge the danger and the devastating effect it has. They assert that battling and overcoming this threat should be a top priority for the nation.
The letter, organized by Survivors Against Terror, an alliance of individuals who have experienced attacks in the UK and British citizens impacted by violence abroad, asserts: “The most crucial step in defeating this danger is to separate the extremists and terrorists from the majority of British Muslims who condemn such acts of violence.”
In the past few weeks, there have been numerous instances where politicians and other individuals have not done their part, often wrongly associating being Muslim with being an extremist, contributing to anti-Muslim sentiments, or not speaking out against it.
Lee Anderson, a previous deputy chair of the Conservative party, was punished by the party for not acknowledging his comments about London mayor Sadiq Khan made on GB News. The Labour party condemned his statements, stating that they were clearly discriminatory towards Islam.
Last month, former home secretary Suella Braverman received backlash for her article in the Telegraph that stated “the current leaders are Islamists, extremists, and anti-Semites.”
The first minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf, cautioned that Braverman was fanning the flames of racial and religious divisions.
Paul Price, who was severely wounded in the May 2017 attack at the Manchester Arena, stated that terrorists take advantage of discord and that politicians should emphasize the commonalities among different communities. He also expressed, “Terrorists want individuals to choose a side and become enraged. Instead, it should be a unified effort against them.”
West Yorkshire resident Rebecca Rigby speaks out about the murder of her husband, Lee, near a barracks in May 2013. She expresses concern that her husband’s death has been fueling anti-Muslim sentiments, which goes against Lee’s beliefs and the desires of their family.
To effectively address terrorism, it is crucial to distinguish between the majority of peaceful Muslims who are our neighbors and the minority of extremists.
Darryn Frost, who used a narwhal tusk to help tackle the terrorist behind the London Bridge attack in 2019, said: “I think it’s dangerous when any of our leaders marginalise communities and paint a very broad brush. People need to consider the power of their words because they have the power to incite further hatred.”
The document is released prior to the fifth-year commemoration on March 15th, of the extreme political extremist assault on two mosques located in Christchurch, New Zealand, resulting in the deaths of 51 individuals. The undersigned emphasize the significance of refraining from contributing to anti-Muslim animosity.
Brendan Cox, one of the founding members of Survivors Against Terror, has cautioned against the potential for extremist acts to become politicized.
According to him, using this problem for strategic political gain may harm the unified agreement and weaken our endeavors. He warns that survivors of attacks have a clear message: while politics can be played, the safety of our nation must not be compromised.
Source: theguardian.com
