Dominic Moghal is a consultant to the Bishop of Bradford on interfaith matters, and he co-ordinates an interfaith project in the city. Moghal told of the consequences if a break occurred in communications and engagement between the Christian and Muslim communities.
In urging Christian groups to take part in more partnerships and interfaith works with the Muslim communities, Moghal said, “We need to reassure the Muslim community and make a distinction between extremists and the wider Muslim community.”
He continued, “The Church needs to make sure it does not isolate Muslims and make unhelpful generalisations, like President Bush did when he used the term ‘Muslim fascists’,” according to the Church of England newspaper.
“I strongly believe we can only fight this problem together and instead of isolating Muslims we need to engage with them.”
After some commentators had suggested introducing a scheme of passenger profiling at airports which specifically singled-out Muslims for security checks, Moghal replied, “This would not be helpful as it would lead to more isolation of Muslims. We need to broaden our horizons and make sure we don’t demonise Muslims.”
Rev Wilkinson, who is a former Archdeacon in Bradford, emphasised that it was vital for there to be no reflex response to the terrorist threat unveiled to the pubic last week.
In calling for the churches to continue their interfaith works as normal, Rev Wilkinson added, “The important thing is the underlying level of work carries on, and that we don’t start dreaming up new initiatives, but keep maintaining dialogue and the existing relationships we already have with different faith groups, not just focusing on the Muslim community,” according to the Church of England newspaper.
He said, “We need to maintain the relationships which have been developed between faiths and not allow them to wither due to these recent events.”
Meanwhile senior Muslim clerics have joined the calls for more co-operation between faiths to tackle the problem of extremism.
Writing for the Church of England Newspaper, Ibrahim Mogra, chairman of the interfaith relations committee of the Muslim Council of Britain, called for help from “Christian brothers and sisters in dealing with the sources of anger and frustration among Muslims.”