Welsh faiths unite against extremism

CARDIFF — Welsh Muslim and Christian leaders are coming together this weekend to coordinate efforts on fighting extremism and improving social cohesion.

“(We want to) prevent intolerance, isolation and marginalization created by extremist parties, such as the BNP [far-right British National Party] and Welsh Defense League (WDL),” Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Wales Saleem Kidwai told the BBC News Online Saturday, February 6.

The two-day meeting in the northern village of Hawarden, Flintshire, will focus on extremism and its impact on the society.

Leading speakers at the event are Bishop of St Asaph Gregory Cameron, Muslim scholar Abdalla Yassin Mohammed and Chairman of the WAG Community Cohesion Unit Joanne Glenn.

The meeting is a part of an ambitious initiative, the Finding A Common Voice, co-launched in 2007 by the Muslim Council of Wales and the Church of Wales.

Previous events have addressed a number of hot issues such as the role of women in religion; religious stereotypes, citizenship; and global challenges.

The BNP, a far-right and whites-only political party, is notorious for attacks against immigrants and Muslims.

BNP leader Nick Griffin had earlier described Islam as a “wicked and vicious faith”.

The BNP and WDL have recently organized a number of anti-Muslim protests in Wales and across the United Kingdom.

The anti-Muslim rallies have almost ended violently after many of the participating extremists tried to attack police and clash with Muslim residents.

One nation

The Sunday’s meeting will also discuss means of improving social cohesion in the country.

“The aim of this event is to explore in greater depth the implication of social cohesion policies for these two faith communities in Wales,” Canon Robin Morrison, Welsh Bishops’ adviser on church and society, said.

Kidwai, of the Muslim Council of Wales, urged all Welsh to stand up against extremist drives that threaten social cohesion.

“Community cohesion in Wales, generally, and north Wales, especially, was highlighted as an issue when the Welsh Defense League made an attempt in Wrexham to create disunity among the communities,” he said.

“The manner in which all communities stood together as one gave a clear message to WDL that in Wales we are one nation and together we stand.”

The Muslim leader stressed that Welsh Muslims are keen on keeping good relation with other communities.

“The same was demonstrated by the communities in Newport and Swansea. This is something we must hold on to,” he said.

“We are one nation.”

Britain is home to more than two million Muslims, mostly of Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi backgrounds.

Link to Article