Residents and activists staged a show of solidarity outside Noor Ul Islam Mosque in response to an attack on a mosque-goer last week
On Tuesday evening (14th July), over 100 people stood in solidarity outside Noor Ul Islam mosque in Leyton, after one of their members was attacked in an alleged racially aggravated assault last week (Tuesday, 7th July).
Metropolitan Police officers were called to reports of a racially aggravated assault at Noor ul Islam Mosque in High Road Leyton at around 9.51pm that evening.
According to a spokesperson for the force, on their arrival they found a man in his 50s had been assaulted and subjected to racist abuse.
London Ambulance Service paramedics took him to hospital where his injuries were assessed as “neither life-threatening nor life-changing”.
A 42-year-old male suspect who was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm was hospitalised after suffering a head injury during the assault.
In response to the assault, a show of solidarity was organised by Waltham Forest Stand up to Racism, attended by organisations from the Waltham Forest Love and Wanted Alliance, as well as Waltham Forest Council leader Paul Perkins.
At the event on Tuesday evening, Terry Day, of Age UK Waltham Forest, said: “We wanted to show solidarity with the congregation of the mosque, and to communicate the message ‘Whoever you are, wherever you are from, you are loved and wanted in London’.”
Rabbi Richard Jacobi said: “On behalf of the members of my Jewish community of the East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue, I wish to offer my full support to the community of the Noor Ul Islam Leyton Mosque.
“We know, from bitter experience, that attacks on one faith community or racial group often lead to similar attacks on other faith groups or communities. We must sustain a zero tolerance of any and all such attacks.
“As part of the Loved and Wanted Alliance of Waltham Forest, we confirm to the members of the Noor ul Islam community that you are indeed loved and wanted here in Leyton, in this borough of Waltham Forest, and in this country.”
Saira Begum Mir, of PL84U Al-Suffa foodbank said: “It’s important that as communities of all faiths and beliefs that we stand in solidarity with one another against hatred. Hate is usually born from ignorance. Collective resilience defeats division, it honours shared strength, it outlines the needs, the importance to continue to work together. The responsibility lies with each and every one of us to build an inclusive future.”
The Waltham Forest Loved and Wanted Alliance consists of: Age UK Waltham Forest, Chingford Mosque, East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue, PL84U Al-Suffa foodbank, St Barnabas Church, Walthamstow, Waltham Forest Chinese Association, Waltham Forest Albanians.
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