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Sikhs join Faith Trail in London
suicide bombers' town
WSN Network
 LONDON:
Sikhs in Leeds have taken the initiative to invite members of other
faiths to see their place of worship in step with similar reciprocal
action by others.
Four years on
from the 7/7 London bombings, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians in Leeds
took the step aimed at removing doubts and misconceptions by
bringing in transparency and ushering more understanding.
Incidentally,
Sikh gurdwaras are always open to all people, including atheists.
Now, residents are being invited to see inside the Kashmiri Muslim
Welfare Association and Jamia Masjid Abu Huraira, the GNNSJ Sikh
Gurdwara and the Holy Spirit Anglican church in Beeston as part of a
Faith Trail.
When 52 people
died after suicide bombers detonated home-made explosives on three
Tube trains and a bus in the capital on the morning of July 7, 2005,
faith communities in Beeston were shocked as three of the four
bombers had links with the area. Now efforts are on to try and
rebuild trust.
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When 52 people died after suicide bombers detonated home-made
explosives on Tube trains and a bus in London on July 7, 2005,
faith communities here were shocked as three of the four bombers
had links with the area. Faith Trail is a way to try and rebuild
trust. |
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Haji Mahboob
Nazir, of the Jamia Masjid Abu Huraira, said: "Our faith abhors the
use of violence and murder. We believe that to do so is against the
will of God."
Harbans Singh
Sagoo, a Sikh of the GNNSJ Gurdwara, is an active member of
Yorkshire and the Humber Faith Forum and supports the Faith Trail.
He is concerned
Beeston has been portrayed as being "a hotbed of religious
radicalism" when he believes the community is no different to any
other UK inner-city area.
But, he said, it
was a disadvantaged area with its own social problems that needed to
be addressed, and the faith communities there were working hard to
fill the gaps and offer a caring, sharing, tolerant and respectful
environment.
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Bradford follows suit
A nine day
festival will celebrate and attract residents and visitors to
experience and celebrate the vibrant faith heritage in Bradford.
All places of worship, including gurdwaras, in Bradford have
been invited to open their doors to visitors during the
Treasures Revealed in Bradford Festival, 24th October to 1st
November 2009. Calderdale will have a Faith Trail fest next
year. |
The Beeston Hill
Faith Trail, part of the Treasures Revealed in
West Yorkshire
project, will run from
10.30am to
3.30pm every Saturday from July 18 until the end of August.
David Thompson,
development officer for the Treasures Revealed in
West Yorkshire
project, said: "Naturally, our thoughts and prayers are with the
families who lost loved ones.
"Sadly, good
news doesn't usually make the headlines. People have become wary of
faith communities and tend to believe instead in myths,
misconceptions and lies.
"Now there is an
opportunity for people to see and find out for themselves why
millions of people in the UK belong to these three faiths and that
they too hold the view that violent extremism in the name of any
faith or denomination is totally unacceptable."
15
July 2009
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