The
National Assembly Against Racism and the Muslim Council of Britain condemn
the bombings in London on 7 July, and extend sympathy to the friends and families
of all those killed, and to all those injured. The appalling attacks indiscriminately
targeted all of London's communities and visitors to London from other countries.
We echo the words of London Mayor Ken Livingstone, that the attack “was
aimed at ordinary, working-class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian,
Hindu and Jew, young and old.”
We call on all communities across Britain to stand side by side in opposition
to these terrorist attacks, ensuring that our diverse communities are united,
not divided by these tragic events.
We note that since the terrorist attacks a small minority has been using
these appalling events to stir up hatred and target various ethnic and faith
communities, particularly the Muslim community. There have been reports of
up to 180 incidents reported by the police including the murder of a Pakistani
man in Nottingham on Sunday, attacks on mosques in Tower Hamlets, Merton,
Telford, Leeds, Bristol, Gloucester and Birkenhead; on a Sikh Temple in Kent,
and on the Pakistan Consulate in Bradford.
There have also been reports of attacks on cars, homes and businesses, plus
verbal and physical abuse directed at various ethnic and faith communities,
particularly the Muslim community.
The MCB and NAAR condemn these attacks on black and ethnic minority communities
and their places of worship and any attempts to divide our society by scapegoating
the Muslim community as a whole. We urge all other sections of society to
join us in condemning these attacks.