The UK Must Not Be Drawn into a War Between Israel and Iran
Joint Statement from Manchester Mosques:
The UK Must Not Be Drawn into a War Between Israel and Iran
(For immediate release)
Date: 23rd June 2025
To: The Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
We, the undersigned mosques and Muslim leaders in Manchester, write to express our deep concern over
the growing threat of regional escalation between Israel and Iran. At this critical juncture, we respectfully
urge our government to continue exercising restraint and ensure that the United Kingdom is not drawn into
another destructive conflict in the Middle East.
We welcome the UK government’s recent commitment to supporting de-escalation and urge that this
principled stance be maintained and strengthened. The United Kingdom must remain focused on diplomacy
and the pursuit of long-term peace through dialogue and adherence to international law.
History has repeatedly shown that military interventions in the region result in widespread instability,humanitarian devastation, and long-lasting political consequences. Any military alignment or support for
further aggression would risk escalating the conflict and undermining the UK’s credibility as a fair and
impartial actor on the world stage.
In addition to the humanitarian and geopolitical dangers, the threat of radiation contamination stemming
from attacks on nuclear-related facilities—whether intentional or accidental—poses a grave risk not only to
the immediate region but also to global public health. The unknown and potentially catastrophic
consequences of such actions should serve as a stark warning to all governments, including our own, to avoid
further entanglement in this conflict.
We therefore call on our UK government to:
• Publicly affirm that it will not participate in or support any military action against Iran;
• Reiterate and strengthen its call for all parties to de-escalate and return to diplomatic engagement;
• Champion international law and work through multilateral institutions to prevent further violence
and safeguard regional and global stability;
• Highlight and address the risks posed by radiation fallout from any military attacks on nuclear infrastructure.
At a time when many in the UK are already deeply concerned about justice, security, and peace in the Middle
East, it is crucial that our government listens to the voices of its citizens and communities across the country.
We pray for peace and sound judgment in the decisions that lie ahead.
Signed,
1. Manchester Central Mosque (Victoria Park Mosque), Manchester
2. British Muslim Heritage Centre, Whalley Range, Manchester
3. The CMA Welfare Trust (Cheadle Masjid), Cheadle, Manchester
4. Makki Masjid, Longsight, Manchester
5. Imam Faheem Sajjad Qadri – Head Imam, Hazrat Sultan Bahu Trust – Manchester Branch
6. Al Hussain Masjid (Shia Welfare Association), Cheetham Hill, Manchester
7. Jam’e Masjid Anwarul Haramain, (North Manchester Jam’e Masjid), Cheetham Hill, Manchester
For media inquiries, please contact:
Phone: 0161 881 8062
Email: Info@BMHC.org.uk
