Interfaith Meeting beginning with Qur’an Recitation
In early February 2015, Imams Online facilitated an interfaith community meeting at Barking Islamic Centre which focussed on strengthening relationships between different faith and no faith communities following the Charlie Hebdo attacks and the subsequent increase in fear and anxiety between communities that came about because of it.
Shaukat Warraich, Theresa May, Ashfaq Sadiq and Shaykh Babikr Listening to Qur’an Recitation
The meeting was attended by the Home Secretary Theresa May who was met with genuine questions by members of all faith communities about their safety and the work being done to help improve community relations. With Theresa May having visited a Jewish Synagogue a couple of weeks earlier, the Muslim community of Barking took the initiative to invite her into their institution to show that Muslims were not apathetic to tragedy but are constantly working towards facilitating interfaith dialogue.
Theresa May Addressing Meeting of Interfaith Community Leaders
The meeting was attended by faith leaders from Jewish, Christian, Sikh and Muslim communities who gathered to better understand each other and work together for the whole community.
Theresa May Meeting Leaders of the Christian and Jewish Communities
“Faith should draw people together, rather than divide and create barriers.”
Theresa May meeting leaders of the Sikh Community
