Leaders from Greater Manchester’s Muslim and Jewish communities joined elected representatives and civic dignitaries to sign an important declaration at The University of Manchester. Over recent months, the signatories consulted at meetings chaired by the President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, Professor Duncan Ivison. This allowed for honest and forthright opinions to be shared which in turn led to the building of mutual trust and a commitment to ensure foreign conflicts do not become an instrument of division within our diverse communities of Greater Manchester.
The Middle East conflict in Israel and Gaza has understandably elicited strong and emotional responses across society. This has followed an acknowledgment that interfaith dialogue has not facilitated an environment for challenging yet respectful discussions on the critical issues that have divided communities. The declaration recognises that there is currently hurt and distrust and the signing is set against a background of the ongoing distressing humanitarian situation in Gaza and both Muslim and Jewish people suffering record levels of hate crime.
s we progress, the group will be working to bring communities together by requesting access to proactively hold discussions that have previously been avoided. It is hoped that this will foster a new atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect. We will prioritise sidelining voices who are currently using the conflict as an excuse to cause division and incite hatred and violence.
Ultimately, this document creates a shared vision for Muslim and Jewish communities supported by those who witnessed the signing. There is now a formal, strong commitment to promote understanding, peace and tolerance in Greater Manchester.
Signatories from the Muslim and Jewish Community:
- Cllr Rabnawaz Akbar
- Imam Nasser Kurdy
- Qaisra Shahraz MBE
- Neelam Zaka
- Mark Adlestone OBE
- Bernie Yaffe
- Andrea Cohen
- Marc Levy
Dignitaries who supported the declaration included:
- Kate Green – Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester
- Lord David Walker – Bishop of Manchester
- Sir Stephen Watson QPM – Chief Constable of Greater Manchester
- Janet Potter – Chief Crown Prosecutor
- Sharmin Birtles MBE DL – Vice Lord Lieutenant
- Martin Ainscough – High Sheriff of Greater Manchester
- Cllr Bev Craig – Leader of Manchester City Council
- Cllr Eamonn O’ Brien – Leader of Bury Council
- Paul Dennett – City Mayor of Salford
- Cllr Nick Peel – Leader of Bolton Council
- Cllr Jilly Julian – Deputy Leader of Stockport Council
- Professor Nalin Thakker – The University of Manchester
- Professor Patrick Hackett – Chief Operating Officer – The University of Manchester
Mark Adlestone OBE – Chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region
“I have always prioritised building positive relationships between communities within Greater Manchester. During my term as High Sheriff in 2019/20 my theme was one of promoting diversity and integration and I had the pleasure of being warmly welcomed by all communities. However, there has been a totally different atmosphere since October 7th 2023 as Interfaith networks have collapsed.
It became evident that the avoidance of addressing the one topic that divided Jewish and Muslim people, had the detrimental effect of creating extreme tension across Greater Manchester. I am grateful to my friends from the Muslim community and across wider Civic society for working with us to find a way through this impasse.
I firmly believe that dialogue is the cornerstone of our democracy and the only way forward. Honest, difficult, respectful and challenging dialogue will, over time, create links and mutual understanding to ensure that this conflict is absolutely not imported onto our streets.”
Cllr Rabnawaz Akbar – Manchester City Councillor
“This initiative aims to bring the Greater Manchester Muslim and Jewish communities together after nearly 22 months during which the relationship has had to endure the severest strains. I am hopeful that, over time, open and honest dialogue will not only help overcome mistrust and build bridges but also manifest in a reduction of hate incidents/crimes that both communities are experiencing at elevated levels.”
Kate Green – Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities
“I welcome this Declaration, committing to bring together our Muslim and Jewish communities in viable and open dialogue. The Mayor and I have always been clear that we support everyone’s right to express their opinions, practise their faith, and to do so peacefully and safely.
But what we will not tolerate is violence, intimidation and hatred. This Declaration challenges those who shut their ears to others’ point of view, and who spread division and hatred. I am proud to associate myself with it.”
MUSLIM AND JEWISH COMMUNITY DECLARATION
The Declaration reads as follows:
“Greater Manchester is fortunate to benefit from a significant Muslim and Jewish population. Both communities are characterised by a shared monotheistic faith in Allah/G*d, a rich history and culture, an emphasis on family and a strong sense of community. Both are aspirational communities, identified as communities which inspire individuals to strive for excellence and community involvement.
Since 7 October 2023, the UK has seen a significant rise in both Islamophobic and antisemitic hate incidents/crimes. The 7 October attack by Hamas, the subsequent Israeli military operation in Gaza, and incidents in Israel and the West Bank have been identified as the main trigger points that have contributed to a rise in these hate incidents/crimes. The resilience of the relationship between both communities has been tested, data from the Home Office shows that in the year ending March 2024, the third highest annual number of religious hate crimes in Greater Manchester’s history were recorded – this cannot continue.
It is within this background and the ongoing distressing humanitarian situation in Gaza that some members of both communities and the wider civic leadership of Greater Manchester are signing up to this commitment.
The conflict in Israel and Gaza continues to be a source of distress and despair. It has caused immense suffering affecting Muslim and Jewish communities around the world. We continue to pray for an urgent end to hostilities, the release of all those held hostage and humanitarian aid reaching those who are vulnerable and in desperate need. In time, we hope reconciliation can take place and a viable Palestinian State can be created alongside a safe and secure Israel
We must also be mindful of individuals/groups hijacking the Palestinian cause to target Jewish individuals, as we saw with, the murder of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC and the targeting of Jewish owned buildings, such as, the attack on an office block in Greater Manchester. These attacks are designed to create fear amongst the Jewish community are a deliberate attempt to further divide the Muslim and Jewish communities and are in no way helping the genuine cause of the Palestinians. We strongly condemn such actions.
It is widely accepted that the present conflict in Gaza has resulted in relationships between the two communities reaching an all-time low where mistrust is widespread. However, if we are honest with ourselves, then the relationship was brittle before October 7, and any disagreements or tensions were papered over and tempered through collaborative and interfaith work which, although very important, never really discussed the Middle East and the Israel/Palestine issue.
Our firm belief is that, if any city or city region in the UK can turn this dark period of history into a moment of courage, connection and hope that will enable us to step out of our respective comfort zones and have difficult conversations with individuals with whom we cannot agree with their take of the world then it is the Greater Manchester Jewish and Muslim communities. These conversations will not and cannot be expected to resolve, for example, the issue of borders, the status of Jerusalem etc. but will be about accepting that both communities have a right to hold strong views and opinions which need to be respected alongside the willingness to sit down and listen to each other’s views. If we can collectively agree on just this principle then, if nothing else, we are confident that we can begin to help reduce anti- Muslim and antisemitic hate incidents/ and crimes in our city region.
The history of the relationship between Jews and Muslims is a long and complex one, marked by periods of coexistence, cooperation and conflict. The longevity and the complexity of the relationship means that undoubtedly each community will have different versions of historical events and there will be disagreements. There is nothing wrong in having strong views on past events and even on the present conflict. There is also no doubt that stories and footage shared from and since 7 October 2023 have been distressing to hear and see. Other than the intense feeling of sadness and of helplessness, this distress can manifest itself in anger and frustration. This anger and frustration has to be channelled in a lawful manner, for example, exercising our right to peacefully protest but surely it would be much more productive for us to sit around a table and honestly discuss our feelings and emotions to help each other understand the pain and anguish that we are each experiencing.
For many from both communities, the first small step towards each other, the first greeting, the first handshake seems a difficult hurdle to overcome at the present time but we owe it to the future generations of Muslims and Jews in this city region to never lose hope because in the words of Martin Luther King, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
We commit to ensuring that there is a viable and open relationship between the Muslim and Jewish communities here in Greater Manchester and we commit to working hard to develop those difficult discussions and our understanding of each other’s viewpoints.”
PHOTOGRAPHS
Photo 1 – Attendees at the Declaration Signing.
Photo 2 – Professor Nalin Thakker from The University of Manchester welcomes guests.
Photo 3 – Bishop of Manchester, Lord David Walker addresses guests alongside the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Stephen Watson, Chief Crown Prosecutor, Janet Potter, Deputy Leader of Stockport Council, Cllr Jilly Julian, Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Nick Peel, Leader of Manchester Council, Cllr Bev Craig, Vice Lord Lieutenant Sharmin Birtles, High Sheriff Martin Ainscough and Leader of Bury Council, Cllr Eamonn O Brien.
Photo 4 – Leader of Manchester City Council, Cllr Bev Craig addresses guests.
Photo 5 – Bishop David Walker signing the declaration alongside the Chief Constable and Chief Crown Prosecutor.
Photo 6 – Cllr Rabnawaz Akbar – Manchester City Councillor addresses guests.
Photo 7 – Mark Adlestone OBE – Chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region addresses guests. 
