Putney MP Reaches Out as Hate Crime Surges
Fleur Anderson visits local faith institutions to offer support
Fleur Anderson with faith leaders and other MPs
November 10, 2023
In the wake of rising community tensions cause by the Israel Palestine conflict, Putney MP has visited a number of local faith institutions.
Fleur Anderson was keen to offer her support to both the local Jewish and Muslim communities following reports of increased anti-Semitism and Islamophobia across the UK.
She has recently visited the Wimbledon Synagogue, Ahmadiyya Baitul Futuh Mosque and Mosaic Primary School in Roehampton.
The Labour MP went to the faith institutions following the outbreak of violence in Israel and Gaza, to reassure communities of Putney's zero tolerance to hate crime.
Ms Anderson said, “It has been nightmarish to watch recent events unfold in Israel and Gaza. I am sickened by the terrorist attacks committed by Hamas against Israeli citizens. There is never a justification for the murder of civilians. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of Hamas’ terrorist attack and for the 2 million people living in Gaza, who are facing one of the worst humanitarian emergencies of recent times. Nearly half of the population of Gaza are children.
“Locally, my focus is supporting our Jewish and Muslim communities through this awful time. Shockingly, we are seeing reports of rising anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hate crime in the wake of the violence in Israel and Palestine. I am liaising with our local police, who I have asked to ensure measures are in place to tackle any local rise in hate crime. I have also spoken at the Wimbledon Synagogue and Ahmadiyya Baitul Futuh Mosque multi-faith prayers for peace, and visited Mosaic School to express my support and hear from local families. I urge residents in Putney to stand together and remain vigilant – we will not tolerate hate crime in our community. We must stand together for peace.”
Fleur Anderson MP on platform at meeting at Ahmadiyya Baitul Futuh Mosque
The Putney MP was interviewed on Good Morning Britain after attending multi-faith prayers at Ahmadiyya Baitul Futuh Mosque, with fellow MPs, faith leaders and 2,000 members of the local faith community. She expressed her gratitude to all members of the local Putney community for sharing their thoughtful views on the situation and assured them that she is taking their concerns extremely seriously.
I spoke with @GMB during my visit to Fazl Mosque, to join with faith leaders, MPs and 2,000 members of our Ahmadiyya community.
— Fleur Anderson MP (@PutneyFleur) November 10, 2023
We must see humanitarian pauses in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and humanitarian aid must reach Gazan citizens urgently. pic.twitter.com/65M6b61XBu
Afterwards she added, “I want to see this conflict end, and for meaningful progress towards long-term peace to be made. The hostages must be released and the bombing must stop. I visited Israel and Palestine just four weeks ago with a group of MPs. I saw first-hand the immense challenges people were facing in their daily lives, from access to healthcare to the ever-present threat of violence. I have spoken twice in Parliament to demand more aid and the right to return for the 1.5 million people who have fled from their homes.
“I have served on the frontline as an aid worker myself and was grateful to meet with aid workers whilst in Palestine too. My position is informed by the testimonies of the Israelis and the Palestinians I met on that delegation, all of whom simply want peace in their lives.”
Fleur Anderson MP visiting Wimbledon Synagogue
Fleur Anderson MP questioned the Government in the Commons on humanitarian aid reaching Gaza and for further information on the rights of displaced Gazans to return to their homes. She told the House that here is an urgent need for far more aid to get through and that the Government must work with UK-based agencies on the ground in Gaza to support the provision of mobile health clinics, medicines, food and water.
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