OPINION: How many wake up calls do we need?
By Fiyaz Mughal OBE, Director of Faith Matters and anti-Muslim violence helpline TELL MAMA
The brutal murder of 3 people in the vicinity of the Jewish Museum in Brussels should be a wake up call for those campaigners who work against hate, intolerance and bigotry.
So many organisations consistently talk about tackling hate and intolerance, yet they are not effective, nor are they able to keep up with the pace of developments that are taking place in Europe. They are simply voices that are becoming irrelevant when social media, web-sites and other electronic formats pour out hate material, on virtually a daily basis.
A resurgent Far Right, targeted attacks against Jews and Muslims in Europe and the continued terrorist targeting of synagogues and mosques, (such as that which took place in June 2013 in the West Midlands), mean that there are real threats by organised small cells and groups who are difficult to find, but more than likely, provided with emotional and psychological support by others.
For example, it is clear to us in TELL MAMA that those susceptible to Far Right anti-Muslim rhetoric usually source out on-line material that re-enforces their hate narratives. It is these hate information sources, that are also partly to blame in giving mental and emotional succour to vulnerable people and in normalising opinions that are far from social norms.
Yet, we cannot also get away from another simple fact. Whoever is behind this attack, we within TELL MAMA acknowledge that there are some small sections in Muslim communities in France who have been involved in the promotion of anti-Semitism and in the targeting of Jewish communities.
We cannot also forget those radicalised overseas and who returned to murder Jews in Toulouse. Such killings attempt to drive a wedge between Jewish and Muslim communities and it is essential that Muslim communities re-double their efforts to work against anti-Semitism wherever they find it.
For in doing so, this not only strengthens the fight against bigotry and hate, it also sensitises people to what others feel and go through. It is also important since it builds a deeper inner strength to counter all forms of bigotry.
Today is another wake up call. How many do we need to stand up and work with our friends, partners and governments in Europe so that those who seek to marginalise, target or murder people are tackled with a Herculean effort?
Only can such focussed work push back and identify those who seek to harm innocent men and women on the streets of European capitals.
We stand in solidarity with our European Jewish brothers and sisters.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
