Three religious leaders meet to make plea for peace and community in Maidenhead

Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious leaders in Maidenhead met on Tuesday to foster peace and encourage good relations between the communities amid the Israel-Hamas war.

They wanted to tell their communities that, despite the events in Israel and Gaza, they should maintain good interfaith relations in the Royal Borough.

Imam Abid Hashmi, Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain and Reverend Sally Lynch all met at Maidenhead Mosque to each read a prayer for peace from their own tradition.

“We are very sure that the conflict is a political battle, not a religious war, so there is no reason for us to be enemies too,” said Rabbi Romain.

“We are adamant that we will not import back here what is happening over there.”

The Imam spoke of ‘the common humanity that members of the three faiths share’, while Revd Lynch said that ‘everyone is suffering’ and ‘our hearts bleed for all the

innocents caught up in the fighting.’

Rabbi Romain told the Advertiser that the event was ‘very meaningful’ for the three leaders, who want to be seen to stand together and give a clear message to both their own members and the wider public.

“This get-together was not out of the blue, but the result of many years of inter-faith co-operation and understanding under the auspices of WAMCF (Windsor and Maidenhead Community Forum) led by Karnail Pannu,” he said.

“It has also received the constant support of successive Mayors and our MP, Theresa May.

“Local faith leaders all know each other, have each other’s phone numbers and interact on a regular basis.

“In many ways, Maidenhead has been a trend-setter for the rest of the country and a beacon of hope when relationship in other towns are much more fractious.

“All three of us have seen rising levels of concern in our congregations, especially among those with family and friends who have been killed, taken hostage or made homeless.

“We know religion can be a source of division elsewhere, but we are determined that in Maidenhead it will be a source of unity and friendship.

“We may have strong opinions that differ, but the goal of peace is what binds us together.”

Imam Hashmi said the religious leaders are trying their best to maintain peace in the community, with the local religious groups being committed to an interfaith outlook.

“This is an in issue of humanity rather than religion. We are against violence against any community or religion. We promote unity and peace,” he said.

“We are against hatred and we stand for all those who lost their lives on both sides, all those who have suffered – because we are for humanity.

“We prayed for them and remembered them; we asked God to give us strength.”

Imam Hashmi said that the Mosque’s community who hail from Palestine, Middle East, Pakistan and other parts of the world have ‘deep concerns’ – and on Friday during prayers, the mosque put out the message to ‘keep positive’.

“[We said] not to let that disturb our peace here in our Maidenhead community. No matter what happens over there, here, Jews, Muslims, Christians, we are all brothers,” he said.

“They listened to us and it had a very positive impact.”

Meanwhile,a protest in solidarity with Palestinianstook place in Maidenhead town centre at the weekend.