Hendon Town Hall
The Leader of Barnet Council. Cllr Barry Rawlings, has issued a statement to mark the start of Islamophobia Awareness Month.
“This Islamophobia Awareness Month, I call on all Barnet residents to pause and reflect on what community cohesion means to us.
“We are a tremendously diverse borough, and it is in our diversity that we find our strength. Sadly, there are many who seek to divide us and sow fear and hatred.
“My fellow councillors and council officers have been and will continue to collaborate closely with our Muslim communities to address anti-Muslim hate. Working in partnership with the Police, we are meeting regularly with representatives of our Muslim communities to understand their concerns about safety and to look at ways to tackle anti-Muslim hate on our streets, in our schools, and online.
“The Consortium of Barnet Mosques will be hosting a closed event, titled Uniting Against Islamophobia, on 19 November. The community-led event will bring together Muslim community group leaders as well as the Police, the Mayor of Barnet, representatives of the council’s Cabinet and the council’s Chief Executive, Cath Shaw.
“Our engagement with our Muslim communities will continue with a series of planned community safety hub pop-up events.
“We will support the work of the British Muslim Trust, which has been set up to provide confidential support and safe reporting for victims of anti‑Muslim hate across the UK. Throughout November, we will work in partnership to promote the launch of the new British Muslim Trust helpline.
“Barnet is a designated Borough of Sanctuary, a place where members of our Muslim communities should feel welcome and without the need to conceal their faith to feel safe. This month, we should each think about the role we can play in standing up to anti-Muslim hate.”