An Official Statement on behalf of The Edinburgh Interfaith Association
“As faith and community leaders and representatives across Edinburgh, we are heartbroken for the people of Southport following the tragic killings of three innocent children at a dance class. We are all more determined to work together to build a strong, cohesive and resilient community across our capital city.
we abhor the actions of extremist groups to spread disinformation and to stir up hatred and violence against particular communities. We also stand in solidarity with the people of Southport and elsewhere who have shown such dignity in resisting these forces. We appreciate Police Scotland reaching out to communities in Edinburgh to reassure them of their safety and allay fears of such hatred spreading here.
We must all strengthen our resolve to continue working together in safeguarding our communities. Therefore it is important that we fact check any social media reports before circulating them. We endeavour to follow the lead of the people of Southport, alongside other places having faces violence in recent days, and come together with mutual respect, united for the peace and well being of society as a whole.”
Signatures to the statement:
Robert Aldridge (The Right Honourable Lord Provost of Edinburgh), Cammy Day (Leader of Edinburgh Council), Alastair Cameron (Clerk, South East Scotland Area Quaker Meeting), Rabbi David Rose ( Edinburgh Hebrew Synagogue) Sheikh Amin Buxton, Bishop John Armes (Scottish Episcopal Church), Ifty Ali (Co-Chair, Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society), Fiona Bennett (Minister Augustines United Reformed Church), Ani Rinchen Khandro (Kagyu Samyé Dzong Edinburgh, Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Centre for Peace and Health), Daniel Gilius ( Scotland Regional Manager, MEND), Dr Hazel Hastie (Presbytery Clerk, Presbytery of Edinburgh and West Lothian) Gareth Jones (Interfaith Officer, the Methodist Church in Scotland), Margery MacKay (Honorary President Edinburgh Interfaith Association), Unitarians in Edinburgh, Nasim Azad (Co-Chair of Edinburgh Interfaith Association), Joe Goldblatt (Co-Chair of Edinburgh Interfaith Association), Ruhy Parris (Baha’i Community),Bill Crook (Order of Interbeing, Plum Village UK), Wege Singh (Edinburgh Guru Nanak Gurdwara), Usha & Parul (Inner Space, Edinburgh, Braham Kumari) Nick Silk (Sukkat Shalom, Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community), The Most Reverend Leo Cushley (Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh), Suman Vohra (Edinburgh Hindu Mandir), Julie Finneran (Convener Unitarians in Edinburgh), Dr Festus Ogunmola (Scottish Council of African Churches), Jean Fowler, The Scottish Pagan Federation.
