Interfaith Allies: The Success Story of Jewish-Muslim Collaboration in UK

In an era often characterized by division, Jewish and Muslim communities across the United Kingdom are demonstrating the remarkable effectiveness of interfaith cooperation. Religious leaders from both traditions have found that when they unite around shared concerns—such as protecting religious slaughter practices, burial customs, and circumcision rights—they create a formidable force for preserving religious freedoms that benefit both communities.

A History of Religious Freedom

For centuries, Jewish communities in the United Kingdom have enjoyed fundamental religious freedoms—the right to worship according to their traditions, observe religious laws, and prepare kosher food in accordance with their dietary requirements. In more recent decades, Muslim communities have established themselves throughout the UK, rightfully seeking these same protections, including the freedom to prepare and consume halal food.

These parallel interests create a natural alliance. As Imam Syed Razawi and Phil Rosenberg point out in their collaborative analysis, “any attack on Muslim religious practice is, in effect, often an attack on Jewish practice as well—and vice versa.”

Common Challenges

The interconnected nature of these religious freedoms was highlighted recently when Reform MP Rupert Lowe tweeted: “Halal slaughter should be banned in Britain.” Whether intentional or not, such statements implicitly threaten kosher practices as well—a point underscored when far-right activist Jayda Fransen responded by asking: “What about kosher?”

Both communities recognize that despite differences—particularly regarding Middle East politics—allowing these divisions to prevent cooperation on shared concerns would be self-defeating. As the Optimistic Alliance initiative demonstrates, the communities have far more in common than what divides them.

Formalizing Cooperation

This spirit of collaboration was recently institutionalized through the Drumlanrig Accords, a groundbreaking agreement signed by senior Muslim and Jewish leaders. The accords establish a framework for sustained Muslim-Jewish collaboration, fostering mutual understanding and promoting shared responsibility across both faith communities.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has been instrumental in promoting this cooperation through the Optimistic Alliance, launched last year specifically to bring community leaders together in common cause.

Success Through Unity

The track record of Jewish-Muslim cooperation speaks for itself. A decade ago, when religious slaughter rights faced serious challenges, the Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester—which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary—mobilized an impressive 100,000+ signatures in a successful campaign to protect these practices.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency legislation threatened to mandate cremation of deceased individuals if casualty numbers exceeded certain thresholds—a measure that would have violated sacred burial practices fundamental to both faiths. Joint Muslim-Jewish advocacy in Parliament successfully secured a government amendment that preserved religious freedom.

More recently, representatives from both communities met with Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron to discuss how the new medical examiners’ scheme could support timely burial of the deceased in accordance with religious obligations shared by both traditions.

Protecting Shared Practices

Both communities also face periodic challenges to the practice of male circumcision, which critics sometimes erroneously equate with female genital mutilation. Jewish and Muslim leaders have consistently stood together to defend this religious practice both domestically and internationally, ensuring that safe, religiously mandated circumcision remains available to their communities.

Building on Common Ground

“Jews and Muslims share much in common—religiously, culturally, and socially,” note Rosenberg and Razawi. “We also have much to learn from one another, and can only benefit from deeper engagement at every level.”

This sentiment reflects a growing recognition that protecting religious freedoms requires solidarity whenever either community faces challenges to their practices. Their joint statement concludes with a powerful affirmation: “We are stronger together. And we are committed to unity, cooperation and the continued defence of our religious rights.”

Phil Rosenberg is President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Imam Dr Sayed Razawi is Chief Imam (Scotland) and Director General, Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society

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