The Muslim Council of Britain is organising a seminar on:

The Muslim Council of Britain is organising a seminar on:


See the attachment file: MCB-seminar.pdf

From Brighton Mayor to BHMF Chair

Statement of Solidarity

STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY

As leaders of the Christian churches in Sussex we wish to express our support for all those who have been affected in any way by the events of 7th, 21st and 22nd July in Central London and associated events across the Country. We and many of the 1000 individual congregations across Sussex continue to pray for those who are injured and those who mourn and also for those who caused these atrocities.

Following recent joint operations by Sussex and the Metropolitan Police, we are concerned that unhelpful assumptions have been made in the media regarding the religion and ethnicity of individuals who have been held in custody. We would urge all commentators to act responsibly in order to ensure fair trials for those who are to be charged and for the cohesion of the communities within which they have been living.

We endorse the joint statement from the Muslim Council of Britain and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland made on 7th July: “The events of recent years have challenged Muslims and Christians to work together in order to acknowledge our differences, to affirm our common humanity, and to seek ways to share life together. Much has already been achieved, and nothing must undermine the progress that we have made. These attacks strengthen our determination to live together in peace, and to grow together in mutual understanding.”

We are committed to continuing the work to develop closer links with all faith groups in Sussex including the various Muslim communities. We would welcome an invitation to meet with any group wishing to discuss ways in which we can work together on matters of common concern.

This statement is made by:
Right Rev Kieran Conry Roman Catholic Bishop of Arundel & Brighton and Chairman of Churches Together in Sussex
Right Rev John Hind Anglican Bishop of Chichester
David Harland Regional Leader of Christian Outreach Centre churches



Contact
Ian Chisnall, Churches Together in Sussex 07976 811654 IanPChisnall@aol.com
Bonnie Evans-Hills, Diocese of Chichester 01273 421021 bonnie.evans-hills@diochi.org.uk

Note
Churches Together in Sussex is a network of the Anglican (Church of England), Roman Catholic and Free Church structures throughout Sussex. The Free Churches include the Methodist, Baptist, and United Reformed Churches along with Salvation Army and Society of Friends (Quakers) along with a number of smaller church networks and traditions. Throughout Sussex there are 1000 individual churches, attended by over 100,000 regular weekly worshippers.

Visit to beach and sinalong with mayor make it a day to remember

Visit to beach and sinalong with mayor make it a day to remember
Children from a battle scarred region saw the beach for the first time on trip organized by a charity.Twelve young people from Palestine visited Brighton beach, Palace Pier and the Royal Pavilion last week.Their visit to England was arranged by the Oxford-Ramallah Friendship Group and they were welcomed to Brighton by the Brighton & Hove Muslim Forum ( BHMF).The children normally live in the Rammallh refugee camp in Palestine.
On Brighton beach they ate a lunch provided by the BHMF Women's group. At the Royal Pavilion the group spent an hour with Brighton and Hove mayor Bob Carden.Later they were given twenty pounds each by BHMF and taken to the pier, where they enjoyed the rides.
Tariq Jung, community consultant for BHMF, said: this project gave these children the opportunity to broaden their horizons, move without barriers and break their sense of isolation.The children met many people who were sympathetic to the needs of the Palestinian cause and felt encouraged by many comments they heard."One of the girls was celebrating her birthday and the mayor very kindly led a sing along. This made everyone join in and also join hands."Afterwards we were offered drinks, biscuit and chocolates".
"The children will never forget this visit as long as they live".Set up a year ago the BHMF has founded and Arabic Saturday school for children and works closely with representatives of other faiths in Brighton and Hove.

Police in terror attack pledge

Police in terror attack pledge
by Phil Mills
The biggest security operation mounted in Brighton and Hove will greet the Government for the Labour Party conference next month.
The Home Office is spending a record £3.7 million for the police, security service and military operation, more than £1 million above last year's budget.
It which works out at £500 for every minute of the five days delegates and visitors are in the city.
Sussex Police yesterday said they were confident the city would be safe from terrorists and said there was no intelligence the conference was a target.
Chief Superintendent Jeremy Paine, heading Operation Otter, said: "As a result of the work all parties have done, Brighton will be a safe place to be during the conference."
Mr Paine said he was aware London was not on high alert when suicide bombers struck on July 7.
He was also aware of the threat suicide bombers posed but, he said, he remained confident the force would deal with any eventuality, although he would not go into detail for security reasons.
Questions have been raised as to whether the conference should be held in Brighton in the light of the London bombings but city council leader Ken Bodfish was adamant.
He said: "We can't let the bombers win. The conference must go on, no matter what."
Mr Paine told a media conference at Brighton police station residents would have to endure some disruption with road and pavement closures and there would be more armed police on the streets and more stops and searches than in previous years.
Under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act, which came into effect on July 7, police can stop and search anyone they consider to be acting suspiciously or anyone on whom they have specific intelligence.
Mr Paine said securitymeasures for the conference between September 25 and 29 had been beefed up in the light of the London bombings.
An island site will be created around the Brighton Centre and will encompass The Grand Hotel, the Russell Road NCP car park and the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel.
Strengthened barriers, fencing and turnstiles will counter vehicle bombers and filter visitors into lines for bag searches and credentials checking.
An air exclusion zone will ban aircraft from the area and the Royal Navy will watch the seas off Brighton.
More than 1,000 police and staff will be involved, many from forces around the country.
Mr Paine urged members of the public to be vigilant and to report anything suspicious.
Adam Bates, the city's tourism chief, said the conference was vital to the city's economy and more than 13,000 jobs were dependent upon it.
The conference, he said, brought in £10 million and encouraged other business to the city from around the world.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/the_argus/news/NEWS2.html