Challenging government plans to cut Inter Faith Network funding

Interfaith Peace Walk

John Woodhouse founder member of the Westminster Cathedral Interfaith group writes: The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove, has informed the UK's Inter Faith Network (IFN) that he is planning to withdraw government funding from it. Mr Gove said last week this is because the Network has a trustee linked with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), and that this is posing a "reputational risk" to government.

The Network has replied to Mr Gove, identifying the circumstances around the appointment of Hassan Joudi on 12 July 2023 and defending it. It has not sought Mr Joudi's resignation and has affirmed his role as a valued colleague.

Hassan Joudi is a former MCB deputy secretary general. He was appointed as an IFN trustee in July 2023 and serves as an individual. For those of us working in the interfaith field, often on our own and voluntarily, this decision is appalling. The four staff of IFN have been a great support for so long. They have all been given notice of redundancy at the end of February. Last year Leo Taylor, a new young IFN employee, came to our Westminster Cathedral group and he was such an inspiration. David Evans the interfaith officer of the Salvation Army also came to that discussion of 'Fratelli Tutti'. That would not have happened if we had not been part of National Interfaith Week which could now presumably come to an end.

My colleagues at Faiths Together in Croydon are all as shocked and upset as I am and all signed letters to the Press and to Mr Gove. They spoke of the great support IFN has given Faiths Together in Croydon. When I had to resign as chair of South London Interfaith group, the one person I knew I could turn to was Harriet Crabtree, the Director of IFN, and her help and support were wonderful. Who will we turn to now?

The basis of interfaith is friendship. Strangers become friends and we can dialogue and work together.

There are many frightened and anxious people in our Jewish and Muslim communities. There has been a marked increase in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. The timing of this ill-advised decision could not come at a worse time and it sends all the wrong signals about inter faith. I am so passionate about this that I have written to HM the King!

Please write to your MP and to:

The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and CommunitiesDepartment for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
South West Quadrant, 2nd Floor
Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

email: Ministerial.Correspondence@levellingup.gov.uk

John Woodhouse - who has an MA in Christianity and interreligious relations from Heythrop - founded the Westminster Cathedral Interfaith group which meets monthly to discuss papal documents and visit mosques, synagogues, temples and exhibitions. He has been on Faiths Together in Croydon walks in the past and been involved with the group about combating hate crime.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales is a member of the Inter Faith Network for the UK, which works to promote understanding, cooperation and good relations between organisations and persons of different faiths in the UK. Inter Faith Week is a programme of the Inter Faith Network for the UK.

LINK

Interfaith Network: www.interfaith.org.uk/