westminster

Elliot's weekly round-up: Woman on the Bridge & Muslim Soldiers

ELLIOT'S WEEKLY ROUND-UP: WOMAN ON THE BRIDGE & MUSLIM SOLDIERS

This week in the media:

  • A Muslim woman responds to criticism of how she was portrayed on social media
  • Muslims stand in solidarity with victims of the Westminster and raise funds for the victims and British Muslim soldiers speak out

A photo of Muslim woman who was walking over Westminster Bridge soon after the Westminster attack has been in the media this week.

The picture of the woman has been widely circulated on social media. She has been criticised for 'casually' walking by and ignoring victims whilst on her mobile phone.

Jamie Lorriman, who took the photo, spoke out in defence of the woman telling Australia’s ABC: 

The people who took on that picture are being rather selective... It’s wrong it’s been misappropriated in that way.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/24/muslim-woman-bridge-westminster-attack-speaks-becoming-target/

Elsewhere a Muslim speaks of her shock at hearing of the stabbing of police officer Keith Palmer whilst in her office overlooking the Thames.

She then explains how British Muslims collected £25,000 for the victims of the attack. However, the amount raised now stands at more than £28,000.

On Sunday evening Muslim women formed a human chain to demonstrate solidarity for the victims.

On Wednesday tourists joined Muslims and Jews in a silent vigil on Westminster Bridge and outside the Houses of Parliament.

Some held signs reading, 'Love for all. Hatred for none.'

The secretary of Bangladeshi Muslims UK stated he wanted...

to show our solidarity with those killed here by this barbaric attack. We don’t support this kind of attack in the name of Islam or any other faith.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/29/love-for-all-hatred-for-none-hundreds-gather-for-westminster-attack-vigil

Elsewhere on BBC radio 4, Salaam to Queen and Country tells the story of Muslim soldiers in the British Army.

The soldiers tell of how some have had to overcome objections from family and friends to serve in the military.

The programme reveals what its like for the 16 Muslim women and 426 Muslim men in the British Army.

The media can give greater insight and understanding into Muslim life.

To further develop a more comprehensive understanding why not consider some study.

Taking some time for a module or a short course could help you to share Jesus more effectively.

It could be exactly what you need

SINCE YOU'RE HERE...

... we have recently reached a total of 40 local Mahabba prayer groups in the UK - awesome news!

With your help, though, we would like to continue to sow, plant and support Mahabba groups.

Our work involves a small team of regional reps and central hub personnel investing in local coordinators and groups, as well as spreading the word.

To continue this vital mission to Muslims, we need to increase our regular monthly income.

Our initial target is to raise up 100 individual regular donors, giving an average of £10 to £15 per month.

Could you be one of the 100?

Elliot's weekly round-up: Westminster Attack

Image: David Dibert, Unsplash

ELLIOT'S WEEKLY ROUND-UP: WESTMINSTER ATTACK

The news has been dominated by the attack on Westminster this week.

A car driving at speed ran into pedestrians and then a policeman was stabbed.

The person who carried out the attack has been referred to in a number of different ways including: Adrian, Khalid, a bright and sporty pupil, friendly and polite, a middle aged father, a soldier of Islamic State, a Muslim convert radicalised whilst in prison, a body builder, a portly man, violent, shy, friendly and approachable, nomadic, a former English teacher, middle aged murderer, pure evil scum, a good listener, a dad who gave football tips to boys in the neighbourhood, someone who would play football but was not very good, a grandfather, a criminal, a manager.

Who exactly was he?

But as Brendan Cox stated - husband of murdered MP Jo Cox - we should focus on the victims of the crime. Forty people have been injured and four have died: PC Palmer, Spanish teacher Aysha Frade, American tourist Kurt Cochran who was celebrating his silver wedding anniversary, and cricket loving Leslie Rhodes - a retired London window cleaner.

What the terrorist would like to happen is for us to fall apart and start blaming groups of people, to say that in some way this is Muslim or Islam as a whole.

https://www.indy100.com/article/westminster-london-terror-attack-parliament-brendan-cox-shooting-updated-7644936

The attack has been condemned by The Muslim Council of Britain. The Mayor of London has thanked the emergency services and warned Muslims to be vigilant against hate preachers. 

Terrorists want to attack London is because they hate the fact that we don’t just tolerate each other – whether you’re a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, member of an organised faith or not, we respect, embrace and celebrate each other and that’s going to carry on

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-attack-isis-muslim-council-britain-westminster-terror-cowardly-depraved-harun-khan-solidarity-a7646201.html

Muslims from around The UK have condemned the attacks including groups from Lincoln , Blackburn and Muslim leaders from Waltham Forest.

Another group have gone beyond words to do something positive for the victims. It has raised funds for the families of the by setting up a website entitled Muslims United for London. At the time of writing it has raised over £20,000.  

Our response

Let's pray for the victims, let's pray against radicalisation and for those developing anti radicalisation strategies. Let's continue to reach out to our Muslim colleagues and neighbours with the love of Jesus.

We have to remember that the person who did this is no more representative of British Muslims than the person who killed Jo is representative of people that are from Yorkshire.