Dozens of British mosques and Muslim groups have come together to send a joint letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, expressing their support for the pause in U.K.-Israel trade talks and urging for more decisive action on Palestinian human rights.
In a show of solidarity, 36 Muslim organizations and mosques across the U.K. have signed the letter, addressing the recent announcement by the U.K. government to suspend the trade talks with Israel over concerns of human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The letter, which was also sent to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, commended the government’s decision to pause the trade talks and called for further action to be taken to address the ongoing human rights abuses in Palestine.
“We, the undersigned British Muslim organizations and mosques, welcome the U.K. government’s decision to pause the trade talks with Israel,” the letter read. “It is a step in the right direction towards holding Israel accountable for its continued violations of international law and human rights in Palestine.”
The letter also highlighted the ongoing violence and oppression faced by the Palestinian people, including the recent escalation of violence in East Jerusalem and the forced evictions of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah.
“These actions are a clear violation of international law and the human rights of the Palestinian people. We urge the U.K. government to take a stronger stance and hold Israel accountable for its actions,” the letter continued.
The signatories also called for an end to the U.K.’s complicity in the Israeli occupation and called for the government to take concrete actions to support the Palestinian people.
“We call on the U.K. government to take decisive action to end its complicity in the Israeli occupation and to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. This includes imposing sanctions on Israel and banning the import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements,” the letter stated.
The joint letter also emphasized the need for the U.K. government to take a strong stance in the international arena and push for a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“We believe that the U.K. has a crucial role to play in bringing an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people and promoting peace and justice in the region. We urge the U.K. government to take a stronger stance in the international arena and work towards a just and lasting solution to the conflict,” the letter concluded.
The letter has received widespread support from the British Muslim community, with many expressing their appreciation for the joint effort to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
“The joint letter from British mosques and Muslim organizations is a powerful statement of solidarity and support for the Palestinian people. We are heartened to see the U.K. Muslim community coming together to call for decisive action to be taken to end the ongoing human rights violations in Palestine,” said a spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain, one of the signatories of the letter.
This joint effort by British mosques and Muslim organizations sends a strong message to the U.K. government that the Muslim community stands united in their call for justice and peace in Palestine. It is a reminder that the Palestinian cause is not just a political issue, but a humanitarian one that deserves urgent attention and action.
We hope that the U.K. government will heed the call of the British Muslim community and take concrete steps towards ending the suffering of the Palestinian people and promoting a just and lasting solution to the conflict. It is time for the U.K. to stand on the right side of history and be a leading voice for justice and human rights for all.
