Bishop Dagmar Joins Edinburgh Interfaith Association and Primus in Support of Muslim Community After Attacks

The Bishop of Edinburgh has joined the Edinburgh Interfaith Association and the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church to offer support to the Muslim Community following a series of suspected anti-Muslim attacks in Edinburgh.

Reports said that attacks began near a mosque in the west of the city, where two men were injured, with other incidents also reported elsewhere in the city. A 36-year-old man has been charged in connection with a number of incidents.

One of the first events that the Rt Rev Dr Dagmar Winter (pictured left) attended as Bishop of Edinburgh was an interfaith conference at the City Chambers on 8 June, facilitated by the Edinburgh Interfaith Association. Bishop Dagmar had been invited to attend by The Lord Provost of Edinburgh and the UK Commission of Interfaith Relations.

Bishop Dagmar said: “Having experienced my first interfaith meeting in Edinburgh a fortnight ago, I am, with so many others, shocked and saddened by the brutal attack targeting Muslims in our city.

“I offer my support and prayers to all those affected, especially to those injured and the whole Muslim community feeling anxious following the attacks. Such brutality and hate hurts us all.”

Echoing a statement released by Edinburgh Interfaith Association, Bishop Dagmar said: “We will not allow hate to divide our city but meet with love and respect across all faiths.” You can read the text of the statement from the Edinburgh Interfaith Association at the bottom of this page.

The Most Rev Mark Strange (pictured right), Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, said: “I join with all in the Scottish Episcopal Church who have been shocked to learn of these terrible incidents, and we offer prayer for the injured, those in trauma, and all those who have been frightened by the events that have taken place on streets in Scotland, and are today living in fear.

“As a country we must stand together in condemning the hatred of the few who seek to divide us, and speak out against violence, racism or religious hatred. We must stand alongside whose who have been targeted, and show our love and support.

“Again, I urge every congregation and fellowship to hold our brothers and sisters in the Muslim Community in prayer and to do all we can to ensure that our communities are not torn apart by such attacks.”

Edinburgh Interfaith Association: Statement of solidarity with Edinburgh’s Muslim community following Friday’s attacks

The members of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association were horrified to learn of yesterday’s attacks against members of the Muslim community across Edinburgh. These incidents included the stabbing of two young students in Broomhouse and an assault on a Muslim taxi driver. We stand in absolute solidarity with our Muslim community, and our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims of these senseless attacks.

We take great pride in Edinburgh’s reputation as a welcoming city where our cultural and religious diversity is our ultimate strength. Because our city enjoys deeply rooted interfaith relationships and friendships, an attack on one community feels like an attack on us all. Only last Sunday, our diverse faith communities came together to walk for peace, visiting one another’s places of worship. We are profoundly saddened that just one week later, along the very route we walked, innocent people were targeted simply because of their faith.

We must not allow our communities to be divided by those whose only agenda is to spread hatred. Together, we must continue to stand shoulder to shoulder, ensuring that love, respect, and unity always triumph over division. Moving forward, we must continue to come together across all faiths and none to ensure that Edinburgh remains a safe, inclusive, and peaceful home for everyone.