The horrific attack in Woolwich yesterday has brought back memories of the 7/7 bombings for many of us in Beeston. Community leaders and residents are reacting as they did in 2005 to show solidarity with the victims and reject the use of religion to justify terrorist acts.
Leeds Central MP, Hilary Benn issued the following statement:
“The thoughts of everyone in Leeds will be with the family of the young man who was so brutally killed in Woolwich yesterday.
“In the face of such hatred, we must stand together and not let anyone divide us. No matter what happens, we will never give up our democratic way of life. And the best way we can show this is by reacting with calm and strength in equal measure, just as was demonstrated yesterday by those passers-by who tried to help with complete disregard for their own safety.
“The immediate task, as the police continue their work, is to offer every support to the people of Woolwich as they try to come to terms with what has happened.”
Beeston resident Mahboob Nazir added:
“You will have heard of the horrific acts of evil in London yesterday. Terrorists do not represent God loving, law abiding citizens of our country. Muslims and non-Muslims must come together in solidarity and maintain peace within our community.”
Councillor Asghar Khan, who lives in Beeston, Tweeted yesterday:
“Saddened and horrified by barbaric acts committed in the name of religion. Such murders are a disgrace to any faith #Woolwich”
Really don’t like the use of that shocking image on a family friendly site like this. Plays into the terrorists hands of broadcasting their rantings to the world as a result of murdering a defenceless man on the street and asking people to take pictures to show everyone. Please replace with something that doesn’t do that.
Thanks for your comment Silver Machine. I have now taken down the photo you were objecting to, but this is because I’ve been advised we might be breaching someone’s copyright.
The image has been all over the TV and mainstream press, I used it as a shorthand way of referring to the event that everyone is well aware of by now. I used the image in a very small format and in a way that individuals could not be identified. I don’t believe using the image gave any succor to the terrorists. The story is a positive story about a community’s reaction to dreadful events. South Leeds Life tries to be a family friendly site, but we won’t shy away from tackling serious stories like this one.
We shouldn’t attempt to hide the brutality of this attack. You are completely wrong in arguing that this plays into their hands. Glad to see the blog has not removed the image for the reasons you suggest.
Great article Jeremy.
I think it’s really important to show the reaction and horror from all parts of our community about this atrocity – Mahboob hits the nail right on the head: “Muslims and non-Muslims must come together in solidarity and maintain peace within our community”.
Long may that continue.
Agree with John Baron, important to convey the cross community condemnation, but I do think its wrong of the media to trot out the terrorists propaganda for them, much like they learnt not to play hostage videos as it only encouraged more.
Aside from that, pictures of the dead like that take away their dignity somewhat I think, should be allowed what privacy they can get. Even if that doesn’t suit the sensation hungry media.
Standard boilerplate comments from community leaders. Exactly what I was expecting to hear.
But the plots and atrocities continue, and no one is providing any new ideas on how to stop them.
I don’t think there are any ways to stop plots and atrocities.
People have done awful things to each other since the beginning of time and will continue to do so and it’s not possible to eliminate all risk of this happening anywhere. It is good that community leaders express their condemnation of such incidents and stand together. It is easy to forget that a failure to do this and to deal with injustices in Northern Ireland created an environment where terrorism flourished.
I have little doubt that less injustice and a fairer sharing of the world’s resources would reduce such incidents but it would not stop them.