BMFF is deeply shocked and saddened by the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by this senseless act of violence.

We stand in unwavering solidarity with our Jewish community at this painful time. Acts of terror and hatred seek to divide us and spread fear, but they will not define who we are as a community/society.

As the festival of Chanukah reminds us, even the smallest light can overcome great darkness. We choose to let the meaning of Chanukah prevail — hope over fear, unity over hatred, and light over darkness.

Now, more than ever, the strength of our community matters. By coming together with compassion, courage, and mutual respect, we affirm our shared humanity and our commitment to stand against violence in all its forms. Together, we will conquer the darkness and ensure that love, solidarity, and justice endure.

BMFF remains committed to supporting our communities and upholding the values of peace, resilience, and unity.

This evening we came together and shared in the Chanukah lighting event at Hendon Town Hall, led by Chabad House of Hendon and the Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet Councillor Danny Rich.

On 19 November 2025, the Consortium of Barnet Mosques hosted a powerful and an inspiring community-driven event at Hendon Town Hall as part of Islamophobia Awareness Month 2025.

The theme “Uniting Against Islamophobia” brought together an impressive lineup of speakers, Barnet Mosque’s Leaders ,council leaders, educators, police representatives, community activists and Barnet’s vibrant Muslim community in order to raise awareness of Islamophobia and strengthen borough-wide unity.The event served as both an awareness platform and a call to collective responsibility.

The evening opened with welcoming remarks by Irfan Hussain highlighting the purpose of the event: Connection , awareness, and collective action.
Dr Sufi ,Trustee of High Barnet and Finchley Mosque welcomed the Mayor of Barnet - Danny Rich .He later on addressed the issue of Islamophobia with clarity and passion in his opening speech quoting real life examples

This was followed by a reflective Qur’ān recitation by 16 year old A-level Student from Dame Alice Owen student - Hibaan Hussain, reminding attendees of Islam’s emphasis on diversity, dignity, and moral character.

Irfan reminded attendees:
“Tonight is about connection, action, and building a community where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. Barnet’s diversity is our strength.”

Attendees were moved by a heartwarming nasheed performance by the Barnet Hill Academy Choir.
Talks throughout the evening explored the roots, realities, and impact of Islamophobia—from institutional bias to hate crime reporting, community experiences, and efforts to promote inclusivity in education and exploring the rich Muslim history within Barnet.

Keynote speakers included

• Celsabil Hadj-Cherif - MEND(Muslim Engagement and Development)
• Bismha Afzal - EAI ( Educate Against Islamophobia)
• Akeela Ahmed MBE - BMT ( British Muslim Trust )
• Bibi Khan MBE DL - NLCOM ( North London Council of Mosques)
• AbdulMaalik Tailor - Halal Tourism Britain / Barnet Muslim History)
• Cath Shaw - Chief Executive, London Borough of Barnet
• Detective Superintendent Katie Harber - Met Police NW BCU)
• PC Mike Buckley - Hate Crime Outputs & Performance Officer for Met Police NW BCU

Special thanks were extended to Cllr Zahra Beg for facilitating the venue and to representatives from Finchley, High Barnet, East Barnet, Edgware, and Hendon Mosques along with Barnet Hill Academy for their volunteer support and leadership.

The evening concluded with the reminder that tackling Islamophobia is a collective responsibility, and that Barnet continues to stand as a borough committed to cohesion, understanding, and respect.The event demonstrated high engagement and strong partnership across institutions. The collective commitment shown highlights Barnet’s leadership in fostering inclusivity and tackling discrimination.

In the closing message Cllr Barry Rawlings emphasised Barnet’s commitment to inclusivity, safety, and partnership with the Muslim community, noting the vital importance of events like this in promoting awareness

Barnet Multi Faith Forum (BMFF) was honoured to be invited by Revd Dr Alec Corio — Rector of East Barnet and Inter-Faith Advisor to the Diocese of St Albans — to participate in this year’s Interfaith Week Exhibition at St Albans Cathedral.

The Diocese of St Albans, comprising over 400 Church of England parishes (including 13 within the Barnet deanery), hosted this rich exchange of dialogue and community stories in the cathedral nave – the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain.

The exhibition brought together representatives from diverse faith communities across the diocese — including Welwyn Hatfield, Watford, Bushey, Barnet, Luton, and St Albans — to share how their traditions inspire acts of service and community engagement.

BMFF’s stall showcased our ongoing work on sustainability, interfaith cooperation, and community cohesion in Barnet. This included stories of our covenant with the local council, partnerships with faith and academic institutions such as Middlesex University, and collaboration with Barnet Council on green transition work toward reaching net zero by 2042. We also highlighted projects with schools, charities, and community groups across the borough.

The event opened with a warm welcome and a set of engaging questions for attendees to reflect on their values and experiences.This was followed by an interactive exhibition where participants visited stalls to share their work and inspire one another. In a spirit of mutual learning and respect, BMFF received very positive feedback. Many participants expressed how BMFF model of interfaith cooperation and environmental stewardship could serve as a powerful example for other local faith communities and interfaith groups.

The evening concluded with short reflections from speakers representing different faith traditions, who shared how they contribute to local community action.

Deeply grateful to the Bishop of Bedford, Rt Revd Richard Atkinson; the Very Revd Jo Kelly-Moore, Dean of St Albans; cathedral staff; Ulrike Hunt (The Feast, Luton); David Jonathan (Grassroots); Revd Dr Alec Corio; Mark Oliver; and the wider Diocese of St Albans for facilitating this meaningful interfaith gathering. We look forward to building on this momentum through further collaboration.

Event Date: Monday, 17 November 2025