The Arab Community Conference in Britain, a forum bringing together a number of Arab-British intellectuals, academics, professionals, and community activists across the United Kingdom, has issued a statement expressing its full solidarity with the people of Northern Ireland following the disturbing and regrettable incidents that have taken place in Belfast in recent days.
The Conference strongly condemned the horrific attack on Mr Stephen Oglivie, describing it as a brutal act of violence that “cannot be justified or tolerated under any circumstances and has no place in our society.” It extended its sincere sympathies and best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to Mr Oglivie and his family.
Attacks on Migrants Are Unacceptable and Unjustifiable
At the same time, the Conference expressed deep concern and sadness over the riots and disorder that followed the incident. It stressed that targeting the homes and livelihoods of hard-working migrant families, many of whom have spent years building their lives, raising their children, and contributing to the prosperity and security of Northern Ireland, is both unjust and indefensible.
The statement emphasised the importance of distinguishing between an individual criminal act, which represents neither a religion, an ethnicity, nor a minority community, and the wider communities that bear no responsibility for it. The Conference noted that migrants and Arab communities were among the first to condemn the crime, highlighting that they are integral members of British society who suffer from the same harms and concerns affecting the wider public.
According to the statement, migrants are “working in Northern Ireland’s hospitals, businesses, schools, and public services. They are neighbours, colleagues, and friends. Forcing them from their homes through intimidation and arson constitutes a direct attack on the social fabric they help sustain and strengthen.”
The Conference also praised the principled and responsible responses that emerged during these events. It particularly commended the statement issued by the family of Mr Stephen Oglivie, which called for calm, rejected collective blame, and acknowledged the positive contributions migrants make to British society, describing it as an example of moral courage and humanity.
The Conference further welcomed the responsible stance taken by the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in London and the Sudanese-British community, both of which swiftly condemned the attack and expressed solidarity and support. It described these actions as embodying the highest values of shared citizenship and human dignity. The Conference called on Arab embassies to issue similar statements and to advocate for the protection of Arab and Muslim minority communities.
The statement also expressed admiration for Irish activists who formed human chains to protect migrant families and communities from intimidation and violence.
Concluding its statement, the Conference called for reason and restraint to prevail and urged the public not to be drawn into populist rhetoric promoted by far-right movements seeking to import divisive external agendas that serve only to fragment society and deepen social tensions.
The Conference ended by reiterating a fundamental principle: “The actions of one individual must never be used as a pretext to condemn an entire people, religion, nationality, or community.” It stressed that this is not a matter of political correctness, but a cornerstone of any just and stable society.
