After Christchurch, we commit to building a more united, safe and peaceful society

30+ signatories of the Charter for Faith & Belief Inclusion, from organisations representing a wide range of faiths, beliefs, cultures and sectors, have issued this statement following the events in Christchurch:

After the terrorist attack in Christchurch, we stand in solidarity with Muslim communities in New Zealand, in the UK and across the world. We recommit ourselves to working to build a society where people of all faiths and beliefs feel safe, and to challenge hate wherever it appears.

We believe anti-Muslim prejudice has been allowed to become normalised for too long. We must all take a stand against the spread of bigotry and intolerance. We firmly oppose narratives that dehumanise and demonise people based on their religion or belief. We must stop acting in ways that divide society into ‘us and them’ along lines of faith and belief and recognise that there is only ‘us’.

We, the signatories of the Charter for Faith & Belief Inclusion, commit to doing all we can to bring people together and to work towards a more united, safe and peaceful society.

Andrew Copson, Chief Executive, Humanists UK
Bindu Rai, Principal, Krishna Avanti Primary School
Daniel Morris, Managing Director, Camden Tea Company
Dilwar Hussain, Chair, New Horizons in British Islam
Elizabeth Arif-Fear, Founder and Editor, Voice of Salam
Elizabeth Harris-Sawczenko, Director, The Council of Christian and Jews
Esmond Rosen, Trevor Alexander, Imam Hamid Queresi, Barnet Multi Faith Forum
Eve Sacker, Deputy Manager, The Open Centre
Harun Rashid Khan, Secretary-General, Muslim Council of Britain
Joanne Dobson, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Coventry University
Jon Dal Din, Director, Westminster Interfaith
Lama Zangmo, Kagyu Samye Dzong London Tibetan Buddhist Centre
London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
Dr Justine Juxley, Director, St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace
Malcolm Deboo, President, The Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe
Marigold Bentley, Quakers in Britain
Marion Waruguru, CEO, Women’s Interfaith Network
Dr Mark Chater, Director, Culham St Gabriel’s
Michael Sternberg QC KCFO, Chair of the Sternberg Charitable Foundation
Mike Stygal, The Pagan Federation
Mike Turner, Chair, North East Humanists
Onkardeep Singh Khalsa MBE, City Sikhs
Paul Roberts OBE, Chief Executive Officer, LGBT Consortium
Phil Champain, Director, The Faith & Belief Forum
Propa Anwar, Keep Our Hearts Beating
Reflection Path Derby
Rev Trevor Wyatt, Bexley Interfaith Forum
Revd Dr Terry Biddington FRSA, the University of Winchester
Rhoda Ibrahim, Director, SAAFI
Ruth Jampel, Director, Judaism For Schools
Steve Chalke MBE, Founder, Oasis
Tom Franklin, CEO, Young Citizens

Find out more about the Charter for Faith & Belief Inclusion