Hope in the aftermath of hatred

Volunteers sweeping up after a violent protest following a vigil for victims of the knife attack in Southport, Britain, July 31, 2024. — Reuters

Like most who read about the horrific attack inJuly, 2024, in Southport, Britain, and the appalling riots that followed, my heart sank as I learned about the innocent lives shattered by such sickening violence.

Within one day of the attack – before any information about the attacker emerged – far-right thugs clashed with police and damaged a mosque as a result of misinformation being spread online. As it turned out, the attacker was a non-Muslim British citizen from Cardiff, but the damage caused by narrow-minded rioters continues to leave many Muslims throughout Britain justifiably cautious and deeply frightened.