Faith groups stand together to oppose religiously-motivated hate crime

Representatives of Jewish, Muslim, Anglican, Catholic and Coptic faith groups have formed a partnership to tackle hate crimes related to religion in the city.
CFHP partners (front row from left to right) The Revd Dr Canon Andrew Wingate OBE - Anglican diocese; Catherine Martindale  Catholic diocese; Rik Child  BHFA Chair; Amgad Mechaeil  Coptic Orthodox Church; Fiona Sharpe  Sussex Jewish Representative Council; Sabri BenAmeur  Brighton and Hove Muslim Forum; members of the Faith Council fill the second row.CFHP partners (front row from left to right) The Revd Dr Canon Andrew Wingate OBE - Anglican diocese; Catherine Martindale  Catholic diocese; Rik Child  BHFA Chair; Amgad Mechaeil  Coptic Orthodox Church; Fiona Sharpe  Sussex Jewish Representative Council; Sabri BenAmeur  Brighton and Hove Muslim Forum; members of the Faith Council fill the second row.
CFHP partners (front row from left to right) The Revd Dr Canon Andrew Wingate OBE - Anglican diocese; Catherine Martindale Catholic diocese; Rik Child BHFA Chair; Amgad Mechaeil Coptic Orthodox Church; Fiona Sharpe Sussex Jewish Representative Council; Sabri BenAmeur Brighton and Hove Muslim Forum; members of the Faith Council fill the second row.

Rik Child, chair of Brighton and Hove Faith in Action, said: “This project was proposed after shocking official figures published last year showing recorded religiously motivated hate crime has soared by 1,000 per cent since 2013. The latest figures show 32 per cent relate to Antisemitism and 49% to Islamophobia.

“We are really pleased to have formed a partnership with the major faith groups in the city and have put together a three part plan to increase religious tolerance. We are looking for members of the public, from all faiths and none, to join our faith tour later in the year so please do get in touch with our project coordinator [email protected] if you’re interested in joining.”

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The partnership, which is funded by Brighton and Hove City Council, aims to engage with the community in a number of ways.

Religiously-motivated hate crime on the rise in Brighton and HoveReligiously-motivated hate crime on the rise in Brighton and Hove
Religiously-motivated hate crime on the rise in Brighton and Hove

It aims to engage with schools, colleges and universities on the importance of religious tolerance and mutual respect, and organise tours for people to visit mosques, synagogues or churches in the city to dispel any myths around different faiths.

It also forms a ‘stand together’ committee - where senior faith leaders meet and break bread together to discuss any instances of external persecution of their own community, or any concerns with internal radicalisation.

Fiona Sharpe of the Sussex Jewish Representative Council, said: “In these times of increasing racial and religious intolerance, I am proud to be part of this initiative, bringing together people of faith to support one another within our City of Sanctuary.

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"It is particularly important that we are outward facing and I am pleased that a major part of the work we will be undertaking is to go out into schools and colleges to further educate young people about Islam and Judaism.

"Religious intolerance is caused, in large part, by fear and lack of knowledge. We will try to address both of those issues”

Tariq Jung, chair of Brighton and Hove Muslim Forum, said: “We have said before this must be a joint effort – with all faith groups working together – so we’re very pleased to be part of a partnership that includes our friends in the Christian and Jewish communities. We are determined to tackle all forms of religious hatred we see in Brighton together, especially Antisemitism and Islamophobia.”