London Central Mosque Trust & The Islamic Cultural Centre
16 Nov 2025
The Church, the Far Right and the Claim to Christianity
Speakers:
Dr Ahmad al-Dubayan, Director General, Islamic Cultural Centre London
Rev Dr Helen Paynter, Director of Teaching, Bristol Baptist College, Founding Director, Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence
The Rt. Rev. Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy, Bishop of Willesden, Lead Bishop on Interfaith Relations for the Church of England
Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra - Christian Muslim Forum.
James Holland, Westminster Interfaith
More than fifty prominent guests from a range of faith backgrounds attended a significant interfaith event at the London Central Mosque & The Islamic Cultural Centre , co-hosted in partnership with the Christian Muslim Forum.
The evening focused on the theme of how far-right movements have hijacked Christian symbols and identity to support extremist narratives, and how faith leaders are uniting to reaffirm that true religiosity stands for compassion, peace, and justice.
The programme began with arrivals and refreshments, followed by Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, who opened the evening with warm words of welcome. In his remarks, Shaykh Mogra underscored the moral responsibility of religious communities to work together to challenge extremism and prejudice in all its forms, noting that faith must always be a source of healing and unity, never division.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Rev Dr Helen Paynter, Director of Teaching at Bristol Baptist College and Founding Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence. Her talk, titled "The Church, the Far Right and the Claim to Christianity," examined how extremist groups have distorted Christian language and symbols to justify intolerance and violence. Dr Paynter stressed that such misuse stands in stark opposition to the teachings of Jesus, who embodied love, compassion, and justice. Her presentation is available to view online via YouTube >>
The Rt. Rev. Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy, Bishop of Willesden and Lead Bishop on Interfaith Relations for the Church of England, reflected on the need for interfaith solidarity in rejecting the false equivalence between faith and extremism. He reminded attendees that racism and hatred have no place in authentic religious life, and that the Christian message is one of inclusion and peace.
Dr Ahmad al-Dubayan, Director General of the London Central Mosque & The Islamic Cultural Centre, reiterated the ICC's longstanding commitment to dialogue and mutual understanding.
In his remarks, Dr Ahmad al-Dubayan also highlighted the deep reverence that Islam holds for Jesus - known in Arabic as Isa (peace be upon him) - who is regarded as both a Prophet and the Messiah. He explained that Muslims believe Jesus was divinely chosen to guide humanity, embodying mercy, humility, and compassion. Dr al-Dubayan said that Prophet Jesus, stands as a shared moral foundation between Christians and Muslims and serves as a reminder that "faith, when rightly understood, unites rather than divides".
From the Catholic tradition, James Holland of Westminster Interfaith added his voice to the conversation, highlighting the Catholic Church's commitment to countering discrimination and fostering fraternity across communities.
A shared dinner and roundtable discussions allowed participants to explore these themes further in small groups, generating constructive dialogue and shared insights. Rapporteurs later summarised the key points, emphasising the collective agreement that interfaith cooperation is essential in countering narratives of hate and division.
The event concluded with final reflections from Jill Dhell of the Christian Muslim Forum and Dr Ahmad al-Dubayan, who both expressed gratitude to the speakers and guests for their participation. They reaffirmed the shared vision of standing together against all forms of extremism and promoting a message of unity through faith.
The evening was widely praised for its spirit of openness and solidarity, reinforcing the shared understanding that religion must never be used as a tool for division. Across traditions, faith leaders echoed the same message: that Jesus led by love and compassion, not by violence or exclusion-and that it is this example of love that must continue to guide interfaith cooperation today.
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