In the Name of God, Merciful to All, Compassionate to Each 

The Southport Murders

The British Board of Scholars and Imams (BBSI) shares the nation’s deep pain and sorrow over the tragic events in Southport following the horrific knife attack that tragically claimed the lives of three young girls, injuring many others, in the past week.

This is a human tragedy that has rightly and deeply affected all of us. Our prayers and thoughts are with their families and all those affected by this unspeakable crime.

It is unfortunate that we feel the need to remind everyone that this murderer had absolutely no association with Islam or Muslims. However, the critical point is that his religion, ethnic origin, or citizenship are entirely irrelevant to his actions.

The riots

It is alarming to see how a minority have callously abused these tragic events to ignite public disorder and stoke hatred against the Muslim community. It is heartbreaking to witness the pain, grief, and suffering of the victims and their families being exploited by sections of society to incite hate and violence towards Muslims.

We are deeply disturbed by the subsequent civil disorder and the Islamophobic, racist slogans chanted by rioters, which have led to attacks on immigrant hostels, asylum seekers, mosques and Muslim communities.

It is awful to behold the violence and the terror brought to innocents, many of whom have sought safety in our country. We are reminded that a central Islamic virtue is care and protection of the vulnerable, those fleeing persecution, and those in need.

The surge in Islamophobia and the rampant spread of fake news, which ignited violent unrest and has left over 50 police officers injured, is deeply concerning. It starkly illustrates how baseless claims about the Muslim community and migrants have dangerously radicalised sections of our society.

We are reminded of the Quranic guidance: ‘When the corrupt bring you news, then verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance and do something you will always regret’ (Quran 49:6).

Once order is restored, the causes of such radicalisation need to be firmly addressed. We must distinguish between mindless violence at the hands of those who don’t know and calculated hatred sown insidiously in their hearts by those who should know better.

Calling the ringleaders to account

The rioters are drawn from different strands of our society and motivated by various factors. These include deep-seated racism, a sense of grievance at having been ‘left behind’, or fear of losing their identity. Our predecessors in our communities have experienced similar challenges in previous decades, and we have endured.

However, many of the rioters are also fuelled by deliberate disinformation—knowing lies spread unchallenged through social media against the background of a simmering anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant agenda. These have been cynically promoted by deeply divisive figures within the U.K. establishment over the years.

The violence we are witnessing on our streets is, in part, a result of a political and media culture that has normalised Islamophobia. Politicians who stoke hatred and promote divisive language must be held to account.

Privileged people are sitting comfortably on the green and red benches in parliament or else in media offices, while ordinary people deceived by their lies are running amok and going to prison. We are reminded about such behaviour—that is not restricted to any one place or time—by the Quranic verse: ‘and when they are told ‘do not spread disorder in the land’, they say, ‘we are but peacemakers…’ (Quran 2:10).

The demonisation and vilification of Muslims—from the very top—must be swiftly addressed to check the ascendancy of the far right. Muslims are living in fear, afraid to step outside their homes or attend places of worship due to the threat of attack. Mosques and Muslim graveyards have been vandalised, and individuals have been assaulted.

These actions of the far right must be condemned and dealt with by the authorities. But this should not start and stop with those on the streets. Those who abuse positions of power, respectability and responsibility to incite violence should equally be swiftly held to account.

Gratitude to the Wider British Community

Our Beloved Prophet (peace on him!) has advised us that gratitude to God is incomplete without gratitude to people. As such, we wish to express our deep gratitude to all those who have helped to keep mosques safe, Muslim communities, minority groups, and anyone vulnerable to harm or abuse during this difficult period.

It is not acceptable that any community in this country should be made to feel unsafe or targeted based on their ethnicity, religion, or place of origin. As a mixed community, often deeply affected by events occurring elsewhere in the world, we have our differences of opinion. We should be free to express these without fear of physical harm or retaliation.

Despite our deep concerns, we have been heartened to see the best of the British community spirit in action. Communities in Southport and all over the country have come together to help their neighbours – Muslim or otherwise—repair the damage to their mosques, homes and property.

This is a testament to the true values of solidarity and mutual respect that must and should define our multicultural society. We are reminded that goodness to and support of one’s neighbours is an essential principle of our religion.

We would also like to express our gratitude to the police, who have done a sterling job protecting the Muslim community and their places of worship and restoring order to the streets. We recognise that this is being done at not inconsiderable physical risk to the officers and are grateful for their unambiguous support, courage, and protection.

Advice to the government

We are encouraged by the Government’s determination to root out illegal and dangerous behaviour from those who seek to infiltrate, harm, and exploit established local communities’ issues and grief for their own selfish and racist reasons.

In light of the recent events, mosques nationwide will be compelled to increase their security measures. Consequently, we call for the government to take decisive action against the rise of Islamophobia.

We also call for concerted efforts to combat the spread of disinformation and its radicalising influence on sections of our society. It is imperative that we work together to foster an environment of understanding and peace rather than one of division and fear.

Finally, we urge the government to call out these riots for what they are, clearly and unambiguously: racism and Islamophobia. When non-white people are attacked because they are non-white or mosques are targeted, this is not simply an expression of grievance.

Advice to Imams and community leaders

• Increased Security Measures: Enhance security around mosques and Islamic centres to protect congregations. Remain in close contact with the police and authorities.

• Community Engagement: Foster strong relationships with local communities and authorities to ensure mutual support and understanding. Open mosques to the broader community when it is safe to do so.

• Educational Programmes: Implement programmes to educate Muslims and non-Muslims about Islam to dispel myths and reduce prejudices.

• Crisis Preparedness: Develop and regularly update crisis response plans to handle potential threats effectively.

• Seek out and assist the vulnerable members of the communities around you, whether asylum seekers or others who feel frightened and isolated. This is our religious responsibility as good neighbours.

Advice to the Muslim community

• Vigilance: Stay alert and report any suspicious activities to the authorities. Demonstrate your support for our places of worship by attending them frequently for prayer. Turn to Allah with supplication and seek assistance.

• Cooperation with authorities: Work closely with the mosques, local authorities, and police to ensure safety and security. Whatever concerns we may have about some sections of law enforcement, given recent events in particular, there is an appropriate time and place to address them, and this is not it.

• Avoid Retaliation: Do not take the law into your own hands. We recognise that people are not only afraid but also angry. However, responding to riots and civil disorder in like manner or with violence is unacceptable. It will only escalate tensions and cause further rifts. Let the police do their job whilst remaining vigilant.

• Community Engagement: Seek opportunities to engage in dialogue and community activities that promote understanding and harmony.

• Finally, and most importantly, remember that the rioters, racists, thugs, and their enablers are not our teachers. Our teacher is the Prophet (upon him peace) and his inheritors—the best exemplars for all humanity. We follow his guidance: respond to evil not with evil but with what is better.

May God protect us all and guide us towards peace and understanding.

The British Board of Scholars and Imams (BBSI)

The BBSI is a leading authority in Islamic scholarship and education, dedicated to promoting authentic teachings of Islam in the UK. It is an ecumenical board of Imams, Scholars, and Islamically literate Muslim Academics from the diverse British Muslim Community.