Thank you (JazakAllah) for your candid honesty as always. Please ALWAYS make sure that you have police 👮♂️ protection at all your events. May Allah (swt) always keep you and your family & friends safe, Aameen 🙏🙏
I'm not sure how to say this but I've been thinking of you with all this crap that is going on with the riots. To have been in a bubble of amazing international integration and no issues to come out to see all of this horrific news is heartbreaking But I also know that I can't even understand how you must be feeling Rebecca
Dear Sidra I, and I believe, my whole Quaker Meeting are appalled at the riots happening all over the country which seem to be aimed mostly at communities such as yours. We are also deeply concerned that it seems that Chelmsford has also been targeted and a riot planned for tomorrow night (Wednesday 7th Aug). I sincerely hope that you, your family and members of your mosque stay safe at this terrible time. Please remember that our thoughts and prayers are with you all. We are all part of our one Chelmsford community and are proud of the diversity within our city. In Love and Friendship Jean Wardrop
Dear Sidra, I agree absolutely with Jean. I am appalled at the threats and violence aimed at immigrants, those with any connection to immigrants, and at the Muslim community in particular. Quakers have always stood for peace and looked for "that of God in everyone" and I am sure that I speak for all in our local Quaker Meeting in condemning the current violence and offering solidarity to our Muslim neighbours. Please let us know if there is any way we can show our support. In friendship, Melanie Clarke. Co-clerks of Chelmsford Meeting.
Thank you so much for your kind words. It means a lot to us that you both took the time to write to us. Such lovely words too! Really appreciated 😀 Kind regards Sidra
6th August 2024 To all at Havering Interfaith Forum Following the horrific scenes that are unfolding across the country, I am writing to express my solidarity with the non-Chrisitan faith communities here in Romford. There is no doubt that these riots are racist and islamophobic at their heart, incited by people in positions of power. As a Christian, I take the teachings of Christ seriously. Nowhere in his teachings are we told to hate those who are different to us. Christ certainly showed anger, but he showed it towards the Pharisees. Christ’s anger, a righteous anger, was towards those who claimed to be following God’s commandments. When it came to those of other cultures, Christ’s commands are clear in the parable of the Good Samaritan. If following Christ’s commands then we are to cross the road and stoop to pick-up those who are suffering. Even if from another culture. I am angry that my Christian faith is being used to justify the racist unrest we are seeing, with people making claims about defending a ‘Christian nation’. These people are not acting as Christ would and I believe he reserves harsh judgement for them. I have not been a Councillor for long and I still struggle to understand what my role is. However, I am clear that I must use my position of influence to speak love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As someone married to a migrant, I have begun to fear what I see on the TV screens. However, I can never imagine the fear that our non-white communities feel right now. I want you to know that you have my full support. I will be lifting you all up in my prayers, asking Father God to impart his peace upon you at this time. The UK is a great country and we have thrived because we make space for all here. The next few days and weeks may be difficult, but these days will pass. You are welcome here in Romford.
If there is anything that I can do to support the community at this time, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. May the Lord bless you, and keep you. Cllr David Taylor
Dear David Thank you so much for your well written letter and kind words. They mean a lot to us. I have sent this around our HIFF committee Hopefully see you at our next event. Kind regards Sidra
Dear Sidra My colleague at Chelmsford Cathedral, Marion Palmer, gave me your email address as Bishop Guli was hoping to write to express her support. With grateful thanks Rachel The Revd Dr Rachel Pennant Chaplain to the Bishop of Chelmsford
Dear Sidra
Thinking and praying for your community at this difficult time.
Adrian
Thank you for your kind words.
They mean a lot to us.
Kind regards
Sidra
Thank you (JazakAllah) for your candid honesty as always.
Please ALWAYS make sure that you have police 👮♂️ protection at all your events.
May Allah (swt) always keep you and your family & friends safe, Aameen 🙏🙏
Ameen 😀
I'm not sure how to say this but I've been thinking of you with all this crap that is going on with the riots. To have been in a bubble of amazing international integration and no issues to come out to see all of this horrific news is heartbreaking
But I also know that I can't even understand how you must be feeling
Rebecca
Thank you for your lovely words. They mean a lot to us. See you soon 😇
Dear Sidra
I, and I believe, my whole Quaker Meeting are appalled at the riots happening all over the country which seem to be aimed mostly at communities such as yours.
We are also deeply concerned that it seems that Chelmsford has also been targeted and a riot planned for tomorrow night (Wednesday 7th Aug).
I sincerely hope that you, your family and members of your mosque stay safe at this terrible time.
Please remember that our thoughts and prayers are with you all. We are all part of our one Chelmsford community and are proud of the diversity within our city.
In Love and Friendship
Jean Wardrop
Dear Sidra,
I agree absolutely with Jean. I am appalled at the threats and violence aimed at immigrants, those with any connection to immigrants, and at the Muslim community in particular. Quakers have always stood for peace and looked for "that of God in everyone" and I am sure that I speak for all in our local Quaker Meeting in condemning the current violence and offering solidarity to our Muslim neighbours.
Please let us know if there is any way we can show our support.
In friendship,
Melanie Clarke.
Co-clerks of Chelmsford Meeting.
Thank you so much for your kind words. It means a lot to us that you both took the time to write to us.
Such lovely words too!
Really appreciated 😀
Kind regards
Sidra
6th August 2024
To all at Havering Interfaith Forum
Following the horrific scenes that are unfolding across the country, I am writing to express
my solidarity with the non-Chrisitan faith communities here in Romford.
There is no doubt that these riots are racist and islamophobic at their heart, incited by people
in positions of power.
As a Christian, I take the teachings of Christ seriously. Nowhere in his teachings are we told
to hate those who are different to us. Christ certainly showed anger, but he showed it
towards the Pharisees. Christ’s anger, a righteous anger, was towards those who claimed to
be following God’s commandments.
When it came to those of other cultures, Christ’s commands are clear in the parable of the
Good Samaritan. If following Christ’s commands then we are to cross the road and stoop to
pick-up those who are suffering. Even if from another culture.
I am angry that my Christian faith is being used to justify the racist unrest we are seeing, with
people making claims about defending a ‘Christian nation’.
These people are not acting as Christ would and I believe he reserves harsh judgement for
them.
I have not been a Councillor for long and I still struggle to understand what my role is.
However, I am clear that I must use my position of influence to speak love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
As someone married to a migrant, I have begun to fear what I see on the TV screens.
However, I can never imagine the fear that our non-white communities feel right now.
I want you to know that you have my full support. I will be lifting you all up in my prayers,
asking Father God to impart his peace upon you at this time.
The UK is a great country and we have thrived because we make space for all here. The
next few days and weeks may be difficult, but these days will pass.
You are welcome here in Romford.
If there is anything that I can do to support the community at this time, please
do not hesitate to reach out to me.
May the Lord bless you, and keep you.
Cllr David Taylor
Dear David
Thank you so much for your well written letter and kind words.
They mean a lot to us.
I have sent this around our HIFF committee
Hopefully see you at our next event.
Kind regards
Sidra
Dear Sidra
My colleague at Chelmsford Cathedral, Marion Palmer, gave me your email address as Bishop Guli was hoping to write to express her support.
With grateful thanks
Rachel
The Revd Dr Rachel Pennant
Chaplain to the Bishop of Chelmsford