Crispin Blunt

Conservative Party | Reigate

Crispin Blunt Moves To Reassure Local Muslims Following London Atrocities On Thursday 7th July

Crispin Blunt, the Member of Parliament for Reigate, today visited Redhill Islamic Centre on Earlswood Road so that he could spend time with local Muslims during their Friday prayers.

His visit was organised so that he could reassure members of the local Islamic community and address their concerns that they might be subject to reprisals following the bombings in London yesterday.

Crispin Blunt said:

“The fears of the local Muslim community are real; many of them have settled here from the Indian sub-continent where inter-community violence is still a reality. If an attack like the one which London faced had happened in Islamabad or Delhi and if Christian or Muslim extremists were seen as responsible, there would be genuine fear of violent reprisals against the minority community.

“Whilst that happily seems impossible to imagine in Redhill and Surrey, I feel it is necessary and appropriate to offer this reassurance.

“I also want to communicate the message that the objective of the terrorists is to drive us apart: to get the Muslim community to turn in on itself and to get the rest of the community to turn on them. We must act to thwart the terrorists’ intentions. We all have a role to play, either offering reassurance and support to British Muslims known to us or, if we are Muslim, making clear that yesterday’s atrocities are nothing to do with the true message of Islam.”

Crispin Blunt went on to stress the importance of the role the British Muslim community can play in helping the Police and the Security Services face the terrorist threat. He went on to say:

“ I’ve been impressed by the long-standing dialogue between the Redhill Islamic Centre and the local Police. The work that the police do, from the most senior level downwards, to understand and be understood by the Muslim community has been exemplary. The same can be said of local Muslim leaders.”