Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby fiercely condemned recent far-right riots as “unchristian” and has challenged the misuse of Christian imagery by extremists. Here’s the full story.
Archbishop’s Scathing Condemnation
Following over a week of riots which saw far-right groups attacking mosques, setting fire to hotels housing asylum seekers, and engaging in pitched battles with the police, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has written a scathing condemnation of the rioters.
“Racist” and “Unchristian” Unrest
In a strongly worded op-ed for the Guardian, Welby criticised the unrest, which erupted following the tragic murder of three young girls in Southport, denouncing the violence as “racist” and “unchristian.”
Violence Fuelled by Misinformation
Welby described the violence, which was spurred by far-right agitators spreading disinformation that asserted a Muslim asylum seeker was responsible for the attack, as being “spread quickly online by bad actors with malignant motivations.”
Years of Rhetoric Blamed
In a damning indictment of the years of anti-immigrant sentiment whipped up by media and political figures, Welby warned that the “anti-Muslim, anti-refugee and anti-asylum seeker” violence had come from misinformation which had “flourished in fertile ground cultivated by years of rhetoric from some of our press and politicians.”
Misuse of Christian Symbols
Though Welby’s piece was remarkably scathing, he saved most of his trenchant criticism for the far-right’s use of Christian symbols during the riots. Many rioters have used Christian images, such as the Cross of St George or the Cross of the Knights Templar, as a rallying cry, harkening back to the mediaeval period and the crusader wars against Muslims.
“Offence to Our Faith”
Welby stated, “The Christian iconography that has been exploited by the far right is an offence to our faith, and all that Jesus was and is.”
Christians Must Reject Far-Right
He added, “Let me say clearly now to Christians that they should not be associated with any far-right group – because those groups are unchristian. Let me say clearly now to other faiths, especially Muslims, that we denounce people misusing such imagery as fundamentally anti-Christian.”
Violence “Deeply Harmful and Unjust”
The Archbishop described the violence, which was mainly targeted at Muslims and refugee communities, as “deeply harmful and unjust,” noting that the far-right only existed to sow division and fear.
Community Leaders Praised
In contrast to the hate-driven violence, Welby praised the efforts of community leaders who stepped up to defuse tensions, highlighting the actions of an imam in Liverpool who distributed food to a group of far-right rioters while attempting to engage them in conversation and a group of bricklayers in Southport who volunteered their time and experience to help rebuild a mosque that had been vandalised during the riots.
“Love Thy Neighbour” Sacrosanct
Welby was adamant that the Christian tenet of “love thy neighbour” was sacrosanct and applied “to those who were different, even ancient enemies.”
Deeper Examination Needed
As the dust began to settle in the immediate aftermath of the race riots, Welby called for a deeper examination of the underlying issues which have led to far-right violence against minorities on a scale not seen since the dark days of the 1970s and 80s.
Uncomfortable Truths to Face
Welby added that healing the wounds caused by the riots would necessitate “research into the deep-rooted causes of division and facing uncomfortable truths.”
Economic Inequality Under Scrutiny
In a thinly veiled rebuke of the economic inequality which has given rise to the anti-immigrant sentiment that recently boiled over into outright violence, Welby noted, “Those communities left behind in our country’s race to growth reflect the rich and precious diversity that is our nation today. It will involve serious conversations about what it means to live together well, knowing we share lots in common: streets, schools, universities, workplaces, media, as well as our fundamental humanity.”
Task for All of Us
He added, “Embracing the opportunities and challenges offered by living in such a diverse country is a task for all of us, and it is clear from the last few weeks that that work is long overdue.”
Hope for Positive Change
In concluding his remarks, Welby expressed hope that the recent violence could catalyse positive change. He called for unity and healing, urging people of all faiths and none to unite in the spirit of reconciliation and mutual respect.
Nation in Solidarity
Welby’s words appear to match the views of the majority of the country, with thousands of anti-racism and anti-fascist protesters taking to the streets over the weekend in solidarity with those made scapegoats by the recent far-right violence.
Will His Words Be Heeded?
Though Welby’s call to action in response to the hatred and division that has been laid bare over the last week is ultimately a message of hope and goodwill, it remains to be seen whether his words will be heeded or if, following an all too brief period of introspection, the racism and anti-immigrant sentiment which fuelled the riots will return stronger than ever.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / LCV.
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