Quaker statement on antisemitism and Islamophobia
We believe that every human being is entitled to a space in the world which enhances their dignity - Australia Yearly Meeting epistle 2003
As a faith community striving always for a peaceful world, it pains Quakers to see the danger and hatred experienced by many in Britain today. Both Jews and Muslims have seen an increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks and rhetoric.
The rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia in this country should trouble us all. As with all of us, Muslims and Jews in Britain should be able to live in freedom and safety. Nobody should be targeted, discriminated against, attacked or hated because of who they are. We note and celebrate the actions of both Jewish and Muslim leaders in this country in speaking out against attacks on the other community, and stand with them. We also recognise that other communities and other faiths have been attacked and targeted: we say clearly that attacking people or groups because of who they are is wrong.
We recognise and celebrate the wide variety of Jewish life in this country, and the contribution Jewish people make to our history, culture and life as a society. We also acknowledge the long and pernicious history of Christian antisemitism in this country and in Europe, and the failure to come to the aid of Jewish communities at the time of their greatest peril in the 1930s and 40s. We commit to remind ourselves of the need to be vigilant and to be prepared to intervene to ensure safety.
We recognise and celebrate the diversity of Muslim life in Britain, and the contribution of Muslims to our history, culture and society. We recognise the scale of Islamophobic rhetoric in British society today and how often racism or anti-migrant sentiment can overlap with anti-Muslim discrimination. We commit ourselves to support and stand alongside Muslim communities in the face of hatred.
We recognise that events in the Middle East/West Asia inevitably have an impact on lives here. Our commitment to a long-lasting, just peace for all the people living in Israel, Palestine and the wider Middle East/West Asia does not detract in any way from our equal commitment to the safety and well-being of Jewish and Muslim people, wherever they are in the world.
We commit to continuing to educate ourselves about the nature and impact of antisemitism and Islamophobia: we committed in 2021 to becoming an actively anti-racist faith community and have this year published guidance to our own community on challenging antisemitism.
We further commit to never engage in anti-Jewish or anti-Muslim racism and to oppose them steadfastly and practically.
- Quakers in Britain