The London Blasts: Other Responses

From anti-war/peace groups based in London

Muslim Association of Britain

The Muslim Association of Britain reiterates its total condemnation and unconditional denunciation of yesterday's terrible attacks on London and expresses its disgust with the contempt in which the perpetrators appear to hold human life.

Islam holds the sanctity of human life in the highest possible regard and shedding the blood of an innocent person is seen as a crime most heinous and repulsive.

The Muslim Association of Britain calls on Muslims everywhere to be clear and strong in declaring the fundamentals of Islam which emphasise the principles of peace, justice and humanity. It calls also on those living in London and elsewhere to provide all assistance and support requested by the emergency services and to contribute fully towards the smooth and successful progress of their work.

Muslim Association of Britain, London, 7 July 2005

Pax Christi

Work for peace and justice to end violence
Pax Christi response to the events of 7th July 2005

As a movement committed to reconciliation and nonviolence, Pax Christi is deeply saddened by the events that took place in London on 7th July. We offer our sympathy and solidarity to all those whose lives have been touched by violence.

We believe that the most authentic way to be faithful to those who suffer the violence of terrorism and war is to work for peace and models of security that create justice and trust between peoples. Vengeance is not a constructive or appropriate response. We must not add further to the cycle of violence which is crippling our world.

We will challenge actions and policies that seek to:

Scapegoat or blame ethnic or minority groups in our communities;

Use this tragic event to justify pre-emptive military actions or a clamp-down on democratic freedom in the UK or elsewhere in the world.

We urge our leaders to learn from the events of the past five years.

Global military expenditure is rising. Nuclear weapon states have obstructed attempts to bring us closer to a nuclear weapons-free world. Our government is planning to modernise its own nuclear programme. None of these so-called security policies have made the world a safer place.

Instead they breed fear and suspicion between countries.

Our military responses to acts of terror continue to destroy lives in Afghanistan and Iraq. Instability has been created that may last for years to come.

Now is the time for critical reflection on the acts of violence and injustice that continue to alienate so many thousands of our brother and sisters around the globe. Now is the time for the peacemaking which Pope Paul VI spoke of when he said " Peace is the fruit of anxious daily care to see that everyone lives in justice as God intends"(Populorum Progressio, 76).

Now is the time for prayer, for healing, for forgiveness and for acts of solidarity that change the way we relate to others.

Pax Christi, London, 8 July 2005

CND

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament utterly condemns the brutal and cowardly acts of terror against the people of London. We send our deepest sympathy to those who have lost loved ones in the attacks. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered injury or distress as a result of these criminal actions.

London is united, across all its communities, in deploring these atrocities. We stand together in our opposition to terror, and will not be divided.

Violence and killing cannot solve the world's problems, whether perpetrated by state or non-state actors. They only bring untold suffering to innocent people. We urge all peoples, in Britain and across the world, to unite to follow the path of peace and justice.

CND, London, 8 July 2005

Labour Against the War

Labour Against the War unreservedly condemns the bomb attacks in London
today. We send our condolences to the families of those killed and to those
who have been injured.

It is clear that the intention of the bombers was to cause widespread
disruption in London at a time when they would gain maximum publicity. We
want to pay tribute to all the public service workers whose work has helped
minimise the damage, rescue the trapped and tended to the injured.

Labour Against the War warned that an illegal war on Iraq would lead to
illegal attacks on civilian life in Britain. It was the war itself that
created a recruiting ground for Al Qaeda when none previously existed and
it is the ongoing military occupation that is further swelling the ranks of
the terrorists.

The Government must not compound its previous mistakes by taking draconian
measures that further erode civil rights in our society: to do so would be
a gift to Al Qaeda. We will find no answers to terrorists' threats by
closing down civil society in Britain. As long as we continue to be an army
of occupation in the Middle East we will continue to be a target.

Labour Against the War, London, 7 July 2005

Stop The War Coalition

Initial statement from StWC

Stop the War Coalition unequivocally condemns today's terrorist attacks on the people of London. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. There can be no justification for such attacks. We urge everyone to resist any attempts which may be made to use these crimes to stir up anti-Muslim hysteria or attack the Muslim population of this country.

We emphasise the importance of solidarity, peace and justice as our guiding principles in addressing the crisis scarring the world today, of which today's bombings are a dreadful manifestation. It is clearer than ever that the "war on terror" in which Britain has been so heavily involved has not, in fact, made the world safer from terrorism. Britain's security services warned Tony Blair two years ago that a war on Iraq would make such attacks more likely. That warning has been tragically borne out today.

Stop the War Coalition, London, 7 July 2005