Muslim Women Network

Muslim Women Condemn London Attack - It was an attack on all of us


Download PDF 23 May 2013 MEDIA STATEMENT Muslim Women Condemn London Attack - It was an attack on all of us Muslim Women's Network UK strongly condemns the attack that took place in Woolwich where a soldier lost his life. We convey our condolences to the family of the victim, our thoughts are with them during this very difficult time. Shaista Gohir, Chair of Muslim Womenâ€™s Network UK, said: "This attack was an attack on all of us including on Muslim communities in Britain. There will be opportunists both individual and groups who will manipulate this incident to fuel tensions and incite religious hatred towards Muslims, the majority of whom are law abiding citizens and who are equally appalled and horrified about what took place. It is important that we do not let a minority of extremists, whether it is those attackers or right wing groups, to divide us. We must remain united and continue building a cohesive society. We must remember that Muslim men and women also serve in our armed forces. I am proud that Britain is one of the most cohesive societies in the world so lets all work together to keep it that way." She added: "I also commend the incredible bravery of the woman, Ingrid Loyau Kennet, who actually confronted the attacker while he was still brandishing a knife. Despite being in danger, she was more concerned about the safety of others and tried to talk the attacker down. This shows the important role women, in all communities, can play in challenging and tackling extremism." Additional Information: Contacts for Media interviews: Shaista Gohir (Chair) : 07802 225989 / contact@shaistagohir.com About Muslim Women's Network UK: MWNUK is the only national Muslim women's organisation in Britain. Our aim is to gather and share information relevant to the lives of Muslim women and girls in order to influence policy and public attitudes, to raise the profile of issues of concern to Muslim women and to strengthen Muslim women's ability to bring about effective changes in their lives.The website address for MWNUK is: www.mwnuk.co.uk Membership: MWNUK has a membership of 500 with an onward reach of 50000 women. Our membership is diverse in terms of ethnicity, age, religious backgrounds, lifestyles, sexual orientation and geographic location and members are from a range of employment sectors including: higher and further education; voluntary sector and support including services workers; health and legal professionals; the voluntary sector and support services; health and legal professions; the police and criminal justice sectors; and local and central government.

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