The location was kept secret for fear that what they were doing there would prompt protests. But they were simply agreeing to talk.
Members of the Muslim and Jewish communities in Greater Manchester came together to sign the joint declaration(Image: University of Manchester)
“I’m sure we’ll get criticised for this,” Rabnawaz Akbar told a room of community leaders assembled at a secret location in Manchester.
“At times like these, it’s always difficult to stick your head above the parapet,” he said. “But we all believe this is the right thing to do.”
The Labour councillor was addressing members of the Muslim and Jewish communities of Greater Manchester, who were joined by local leaders and other civic dignitaries, sat around a table at the Christie’s building on the University of Manchester campus this week.
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The location was kept secret for fear that what they were doing there would prompt protests. But they were simply agreeing to talk.
After months of planning, community leaders signed a joint declaration on Monday (July 28), committing to building bridges through dialogue. The Muslim and Jewish Community statement promises to promote ‘understanding, peace and tolerance’ in the region.
Their commitment is inspired, in part, by the efforts of a Rabbi and an Imam who have joined forces to promote dialogue in schools.
Imam Nasser Kurdy was among those who signed the declaration(Image: University of Manchester)
It comes after nearly 22 months of death and destruction in the Middle East in a war that has deeply affected Greater Manchester.
Members of both communities have experienced record levels of hate crime since October 2023 when the latest conflict began.
But what concerns signatories of the declaration the most is the relationship between each community reaching an ‘all-time low’.
Coun Akbar, who represents Rusholme on Manchester council, told attendees he realised something needed to be done last year.
He spoke of residents approaching him who had been victims of anti-Muslim hatred, on public transport and in their places of work.
And he spoke of an incident at Prestwich Mosque where an elderly Rabbi attending an election hustings was verbally ‘abused’.
The Bishop of Manchester, GMP’s chief constable and other civic dignitaries attended the event(Image: University of Manchester)
“We all accept that this Israel-Palestine dispute is complex,” he said. “It has historical, geographical and religious aspects to it.
“Many of us have put out statements demanding an end to hostilities. Unfortunately, all of us have realised that because of the nature of this conflict, this is out of our control. What we can do is manage the impact.”
“We are Greater Manchester,” Mark Adlestone, the chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, added. “What’s happening in the Middle East should not be transported onto our streets. We’re all horrified by what we’re seeing. We are in pain.”
The statement in full
Greater Manchester is fortunate to benefit from a significant Muslim and Jewish population. Both communities are characterised by a shared monotheistic faith in Allah/G*d, a rich history and culture, an emphasis on family and a strong sense of community. Both are aspirational communities, identified as communities which inspire individuals to strive for excellence and community involvement.
Since 7 October 2023, the UK has seen a significant rise in both Islamophobic and antisemitic hate incidents/crimes. The 7 October attack by Hamas, the subsequent Israeli military operation in Gaza, and incidents in Israel and the West Bank have been identified as the main trigger points that have contributed to a rise in these hate incidents/crimes. The resilience of the relationship between both communities has been tested, data from the Home Office shows that in the year ending March 2024, the third highest annual number of religious hate crimes in Greater Manchester’s history were recorded – this cannot continue.
The statement was signed by members of Greater Manchester’s Muslim and Jewish communities(Image: University of Manchester)
It is within this background and the ongoing distressing humanitarian situation in Gaza that some members of both communities and the wider civic leadership of Greater Manchester are signing up to this commitment.
The conflict in Israel and Gaza continues to be a source of distress and despair. It has caused immense suffering affecting Muslim and Jewish communities around the world. We continue to pray for an urgent end to hostilities, the release of all those held hostage and humanitarian aid reaching those who are vulnerable and in desperate need. In time, we hope reconciliation can take place and a viable Palestinian State can be created alongside a safe and secure Israel.
We must also be mindful of individuals/groups hijacking the Palestinian cause to target Jewish individuals, as we saw with, the murder of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC and the targeting of Jewish owned buildings, such as, the attack on an office block in Greater Manchester. These attacks are designed to create fear amongst the Jewish community, are a deliberate attempt to further divide the Muslim and Jewish communities and are in no way helping the genuine cause of the Palestinians. We strongly condemn such actions.
It is widely accepted that the present conflict in Gaza has resulted in relationships between the two communities reaching an all-time low where mistrust is widespread. However, if we are honest with ourselves, then the relationship was brittle before October 7, and any disagreements or tensions were papered over and tempered through collaborative and interfaith work which, although very important, never really discussed the Middle East and the Israel/Palestine issue.
The event was hosted by the University of Manchester(Image: University of Manchester)
Our firm belief is that, if any city or city region in the UK can turn this dark period of history into a moment of courage, connection and hope that will enable us to step out of our respective comfort zones and have difficult conversations with individuals with whom we cannot agree with their take of the world then it is the Greater Manchester Jewish and Muslim communities. These conversations will not and cannot be expected to resolve, for example, the issue of borders, the status of Jerusalem etc. but will be about accepting that both communities have a right to hold strong views and opinions which need to be respected alongside the willingness to sit down and listen to each other’s views. If we can collectively agree on just this principle then, if nothing else, we are confident that we can begin to help reduce anti- Muslim and antisemitic hate incidents/ and crimes in our city region.
The history of the relationship between Jews and Muslims is a long and complex one, marked by periods of coexistence, cooperation and conflict. The longevity and the complexity of the relationship means that undoubtedly each community will have different versions of historical events and there will be disagreements. There is nothing wrong in having strong views on past events and even on the present conflict. There is also no doubt that stories and footage shared from and since 7 October 2023 have been distressing to hear and see. Other than the intense feeling of sadness and of helplessness, this distress can manifest itself in anger and frustration. This anger and frustration has to be channelled in a lawful manner, for example, exercising our right to peacefully protest but surely it would be much more productive for us to sit around a table and honestly discuss our feelings and emotions to help each other understand the pain and anguish that we are each experiencing.
For many from both communities, the first small step towards each other, the first greeting, the first handshake seems a difficult hurdle to overcome at the present time but we owe it to the future generations of Muslims and Jews in this city region to never lose hope because in the words of Martin Luther King, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
We commit to ensuring that there is a viable and open relationship between the Muslim and Jewish communities here in Greater Manchester and we commit to working hard to develop those difficult discussions and our understanding of each others viewpoints.