From Dr Wajid Akhter, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, a message evocative of Winston Churchill’s morale boosting speeches to the British public during the dark days of World War II:
“Assalaamu ‘Alaikum my dear Brothers and Sisters. Many are worried about the direction the country is taking. There has always been racist and Islamophobic rhetoric at the margins but even to the most passive observer it seems that this is going mainstream ,to a level that is causing a real and present danger not only to ourselves but to our families and our communities.
Here at the Muslim Council of Britain we have one clear message for you: do not live in fear. Enough of the doom and gloom. A community that lives in fear is not only paralysed but it is defensive and paranoid. We need to be strong, confident and outward looking in order to weather the storms ahead. This is our land; this is our flag and these are our communities.
The MCB for the coming few days wants you to be aware of three main points:
- Stay safe – avoid unnecessary risks and avoid escalation.
- Speak up – the best way to counter a false narrative is not by fact checking or name calling, but by using a better narrative, and
- Stand together – unity across communities is the best antidote to hatred: organise open days; reach out to your neighbours; do charity drives. Most people in this country are not racist and even those who are, are often just one genuine conversation away from changing their mind. Be the one who helps them on that journey.
We are British. We are the part you may not recognise but get used to us. We are British and come in all shapes and sizes. We are your doctors, lawyers, Uber drivers, your neighbours. We pray five times a day and we support England in the World Cup. We fast in Ramadan – and we love a good brew of Yorkshire tea. We stand up against genocide no matter what and we are not too fond of American billionaires telling us how to run our country. We are British. Get used to us. May Allah protect and preserve us, our fellow citizens in this country and let us be a means to ensure that Britain’s best days lie ahead of it.”
Source: MCB Whatsapp channel.