7/7 Book Launch in House of Lords - 7/7/2010

The evening of 7th July, the fifth anniversary of the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London saw the launch of a book of reflections, 7/7: Muslim Perspectives, at an event in the House of Lords.

25 British Muslims have come together to explain what they were doing that day, how they reacted to what was happening and were affected by it – as each offers condolences to those who lost loved ones and sympathy to those who were injured

Edited by Murtaza Shibli, former Public Affairs and Media Officer of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), the book includes a chapter by Anjum Anwar MBE, Blackburn Cathedral’s dialogue development officer and the Chair of Woman’s Voice.

Already heralded by various commentators as a crucial contribution to the ongoing debate about the terrorist attacks and resulting attitudes – especially to the Muslim community – Canon Guy Wilkinson, the National Inter Religious Affairs Adviser and Secretary for Inter Religious Affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury, says in his commendation on the book’s cover, “Those responsible [for the attacks] we need to be reminded, were respecters neither of humanity nor of religion. If this book enables more people to be respecters of both, then it will have contributed to the wellbeing of British society.”

Canon Chris Chivers added, “Anjum Anwar makes an important and characteristically forthright contribution to this important collection published on a day when painful memories will inevitably be stirred and difficult questions asked. Her presence is a recognition of all that she has done since 7/7 to foster understanding between communities, work which has formed the heart of exchange @ Blackburn Cathedral and Woman’s Voice. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu recently said when commenting on our efforts in this regard, “is there any more important work in our twenty-first century world?”

For further information on the book see

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=130001917010613

or contact Anjum Anwar MBE on 07903731106 or

anjum.anwar@blackburn.anglican.org