Daily Times

The recent carnage at Manchester Arena represents Britain’s deadliest terrorist attack since the multiple bombings which convulsed the capital in 2005. With children among the 22 people killed in the suicide bomb blast, this incomprehensible tragedy has drawn an outpouring of grief and condemnation from across the globe.

The attacker, a British citizen of Libyan origin, highlights grave concerns over extremism within Britain and the pernicious influence of groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS. While maintaining a singular focus on rooting out extremist elements within the UK, it is essential that all communities cohere around the common goal of eliminating militant violence including centres for indoctrination, hate speech and all other platforms which propagate subversive activities. As Charlotte Campbell, the mother of 15-year-old Olivia who lost her life in the Manchester Arena attack so bravely stated, “Please stay together and don’t let this beat any of us. Don’t let my daughter be a victim.”

While maintaining a singular focus on rooting out extremist elements within the UK, it is essential that all communities cohere around the common goal of eliminating militant violence including centres for indoctrination, hate speech and all other platforms which propagate subversive activities

With its diverse multi-ethnic population, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham underlined the need for solidarity: “With communities coming together, we will not allow this to divide us…” Religious representatives across the spectrum have also spoken out to condemn the atrocity unequivocally.

In these desperately dark times, it remains essential to ensure that public dialogue does not descend into prejudice or wholesale condemnation of entire communities. As massacres across the world by terror organisations so grimly attest – the victims of terror are of various nationalities, religious persuasions and identities.

To seek some justification for such abhorrent practices in any religion would be deeply counterproductive and futile in what is a deeper war with far more tangible ambitions.  In the 15th century Florence, a young Niccolo Machiavelli watched the fiery Italian priest Girolamo Savonarola strike fear in the hearts of people with the promise of punishment in the afterlife for their sins and excesses. Though he gained significant support through his masterful manipulation of the public mood and was able to threaten the existing order in Florence, he ultimately failed in this objective of achieving power. Machiavelli observed that Savonarola failed to gain absolute power as the fear of punishment was too remote: in order to wield complete power the threat had to be more immediate. Similarly, through exacting widespread violence, global terror organisations seek to gain ascendancy in a darkly complex war with far higher stakes.

In the current climate of tension and uncertainty, it is all too easy to let anger and frustration find an outlet through the vilification of innocent groups. This would gravely imperil Britain’s unique character as an island of diversity, progressive thought and democratic freedom.

In many ways, Manchster represents the best of Britain: a dynamic, diverse city with a rich history and tradition of warmth and hospitality. Over the years, the city has attracted a wealth of both domestic and foreign investment and represents an important tourist hub for the UK. With its strong ties to Manchester, the United Arab Emirates’ iconic Burj Khalifa tower was illuminated with the British flag in a show of support.

In the immediate aftermath of this horrific ordeal, the city demonstrated a remarkable unity. Sikh temples offered refuge, locals opened their doors, and taxi drivers waived their fares. Human Appeal, a leading British Muslim charity has launched an appeal to raise money for the victims of Manchester attack and their families. “As a Muslim, as a Mancunian and as a father, I want the victims and their families of Monday night’s attack to know that my prayers, the prayers of everyone at Human Appeal and the prayers of Manchester’s Muslim community, are with them,” said Othman Moqbel, Human Appeal’s chief executive.

Manchester’s grief is shared the world over, particularly in countries where the ravages of terrorism are all too frequently experienced from France, across the Middle East and South Asia. At a time when politicians and agenda-driven media corporations often seek to deflect widespread anxieties onto convenient scapegoats, it is essential for the public to speak with one voice to stamp out the terrorist scourge. With militant violence creating a propitious climate for sectarian strife, the Bishop of Manchester’s words in the wake of the atrocity carry a universal resonance, “There is a proper anger and rage in the face of events like this. Our challenge will be to direct that rage and anger to be a force for good. We will rally around the victims and their families. We will unite across our diversity, drawing close especially to any that the terrorists would seek to separate us from.”

The writer is the founding editor of Blue Chip magazine. She tweets @MashaalGauhar