Blessed are the Peacemakers'

RELIGIOUS leaders of all faiths are urging communities in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire to unite for peace in the wake of the recent terror attacks in Paris. The Archdeacon of Oxford, the Ven.

Martin Gorick, met with Imam Monawar Hussain, the founder of the Oxford Foundation, whose work has included United for Peace, an interfaith event which united people of all faith and none and encouraged them to stand together against extremism. Martin, who is Interfaith Adviser for the Diocese of Oxford, said: "We are very conscious of the devastating effect of extremist violence in France, but also in Nigeria, Peshawar, Syria and many other parts of our world.

At the same time we must not fall into a trap set by those same extremists who aim to divide and destroy community life. "It is important to stand with brothers and sisters of all faiths and none and to remain United for Peace, and to continue to address issues of injustice. "At Christ Church, Oxford's Cathedral, we are beginning Prayers for Peace and Reconciliation, a very short and simple act of prayer each Friday at 6pm. Please do join with us in person, or in your church, home or place of work at that time if you can. "Monawar, who was also planning to meet with Jewish leaders in Oxford, encouraged church goers to reach out to Muslims in their communities.

He said: "The only way to respond to this violence is through unity.

There is no other option.

We must live our lives the best we can in our local communities. "The prophet Muhammed is a unifying symbol for every Muslim throughout the world.

What the extremists have done is try to create an 'us' and 'them' situation.

The key message is that we are united for peace, we have all got to work together. "Monawar, along with representatives of other faith groups, addressed the Oxford Diocesan Synod in November, outlining how mainstream Muslims are making every effort to counter the practices and beliefs of extremists.

The letter can be read here: www. oxford. anglican. org/imam-presents-open-letter-synod/He also appealed to Christians to reach out to local mosques and to listen to Muslims in their neighbourhoods or workplaces. "I would urge Christians to open up conversations just to listen to how Muslims are feeling.

Let them know you are concerned and that you care. "The Acting Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher, said: "Our thoughts are very much with the families and friends of all those who suffered and died in these attacks, Christian, Jewish and Muslim alike. "The Revd Hugh Ellis, the Vicar of All Saints, High Wycombe and the Vice Chair of the Council for Christian Muslim Relations in the town, said a press release was issued shortly after the attacks.

He said: "The bottom line is that we need to stand together.

There are ongoing processes of looking at the experiences of Christian minorities in Muslim areas and making connections between how they feel and vice versa. I believe we are just starting to deal with some of the underlying issues. " Hugh said that Christians joined Muslims last year for prayers in the mosque and we continue to run multi faith events. "The Revd Charlie Cleverly, who ran a church in Paris before becoming the Rector of St Aldate's, Oxford, said: "The drama is over, but the pain remains. Charlie Hebdo is a notoriously controversial paper. At the same time they are an 'institution of freedom'.

The response to the bombing of their offices and subsequent events has been really moving. "The turning off the lights of the Eiffel Tower, the demonstrations across the country of solidarity have brought out the best in people.

I have just seen a photograph of the demonstration in the Place de la République half a kilometre from where we lived for 10 years and it moved me deeply. "Listening to French Radio has also been moving as people have lined up to express their refusal to be silenced in any way.

We express great sympathy for the French people, our nearest neighbours and are awed by their response.

May God bless France at this time. "Francois Danthon, who used to be on the staff of St Aldate's until he moved back to France where he works for the Eglise Protestante Unie in Paris and for Alpha France, lives just 10 minutes away from where the attack took place.

He said that before the marches on the Sunday, an atmosphere of fear invaded the city.

He said: "Hearing the news and the ambulances, seeing police driving with high speed on the small streets of Paris brought us all to near panick." He added that Christians must engage more with young muslims in France in a bid to unite faiths and promote peace.

Citizens carrying placards reading "Charlie it is us" and "The religions united against the hatred" take part in a Hundreds of thousands of French citizens solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris January 11, 2015.

French citizens will be joined by dozens of foreign leaders, among them Arab and Muslim representatives, in a march on Sunday in an unprecedented tribute to this week's victims following the shootings by gunmen at the offices of the satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, the killing of a police woman in Montrouge, and the hostage taking at a kosher supermarket at the Porte de Vincennes.

REUTERS/Charles Platiau