Members of the Sheffield Stop the War Coalition will be going around Sheffield´s mosques this Friday(19th), seeking support from Muslims in the city for a demonstration against US/UK bombing raids in Afghanistan. At the mosques Stop the War Coalition members will distribute leaflets (in English, Urdu and Arabic) about the demonstration against the war that will take place on the 27th of October in Sheffield City Centre and will speak to local Muslims about the anti-war activity that is happening in the city.
Phil Turner, Stop the War Coalition steering committee member, who is coordinating these approaches comments: “It´s important that Muslims don´t think that they are alone at this time. There are lots of people in Sheffield, of diverse backgrounds, who are opposed to this war. While Sheffield´s Muslim population, many of whom have relatives in Pakistan or Afghanistan, may be more directly touched by the bombings, the appeal to stop the war is a humanitarian one, and one that resonates across cultural boundaries.”
Phil adds that, “The other reason we are going into mosques is to express our solidarity with Muslims who may be the target of racist scapegoating. There is no room in Sheffield for racism or for anti-Muslim sentiments. The Stop the War Coalition is fundamentally opposed to both this war and the racism that is its corollary.”
This is not the first time that members of the Stop the War Coalition have liased with leaders of the Muslim community in the city. In the last week there have also been successful visits to mosques in Burngreave. And Heather Hunt and Jenny Fortune attended a women´s lunch club at a Heeley mosque. Heather speaks about this, “I felt very moved by the women´s feelings of compassion, for both the families of the US citizens killed and the starving Afghani people now being killed. We shared our fears that bombing can only lead to more violence.
“When we asked in what way we can be supportive, the reply was, ‘Try and Stop the War.´”
Rob Unwin, who attended a men´s lunch club at the same mosque adds, “I was made to feel most welcome. We talked about our shared concerns for the people of Afghanistan and the possible implications for our communities.”
For Rob and Heather the links between the war and life in Sheffield are clear: “Even though community relations in Sheffield are relatively good, this shouldn´t be taken for granted. We feel that everyone opposed to racism and Islamaphobia should protest against the war and take steps to actively build relationships between the communities where they live.
“And, if we can build these links, then we can make the demonstration on the 27th into a fantastic show of unity; an event at which people from different communities unite in opposition to this unjust war.”
The demonstration on Saturday 27th October will assemble at 11.30am at Barker´s Pool and March at noon. It will end on Devonshire Green where there will be speakers, stalls and music.
Contact: Rachel Cohen ~ 07932 646 163 ~ rachel@lara-cohen.fsnet.co.uk