CAIRO: Egypt’s Al-Azhar University has condemned recent anti-Islam rhetoric and attacks on Muslims and mosques amid ongoing right-wing riots in the UK.
In a statement, the leading Sunni Muslim authority urged the British community to address these “attacks designed to incite hatred towards Muslims and instill fear in a significant portion of UK society.”
Al-Azhar also commended the UK government for its efforts to address hostility against Muslims and praised the British police for their role in protecting the Muslim community and countering what it described as a “systematic anti-Muslim campaign.”
The Muslim community in the UK is increasingly concerned for their safety due to a surge in Islamophobic attacks and far-right riots following the tragic stabbing deaths of three young girls—aged 6, 7, and 9—at a holiday club in Southport on July 31.
Misinformation about the suspect being Muslim led to far-right demonstrations outside mosques and other Muslim community centers across several British cities. At the time, the suspect’s name was kept confidential due to their age.
The British judiciary later disclosed the suspect’s identity as Axel Rudakubana due to security concerns.
Merseyside Police have said that the unrest may be linked to the English Defence League, led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, a group known for its anti-Islam rallies and xenophobic views.
