Since its inception, Dialogue Across Borders has always provided insights and commentary not only on Egypt and the Middle East, but also on developments in Europe and important intercultural dynamics relating Europe and the Middle East. In part, this is because of the talented interns and researchers we draw from Europe. 

Although we haven’t commented on it, we have been following the unrest that erupted in the United Kingdom in July and August and its aftermath. In brief, a brutal stabbing attack at a dance studio on July 29th in the English city of Southport took the lives of three young girls and critically wounded several others, triggering anti-immigrant and anti-Miuslim riots and demonstrations across the country. Speculation swirled around the attacker, eighteen-year old Axel Rudakubana, a British citizen whose parents emigrated from Rwanda. The fact that British authorities later charged Rudakubana with possession of a deadly toxin and an al-Qaeda terrorist manual has added further strain to what was already a complex and fraught moment. A UK parliamentary report described the waves of unrest that followed the initial attack:

   "Between 30 July and 7 August 2024,an estimated 29 anti-immigration demonstrations     and riots took place across 27 towns and cities in the UK. Many of these were violent,           with participants attacking mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers.Known far-right     activists promoted and attended the riots. (...) This was the most significant disorder in     the UK since the 2011 riots, in whichat least 4,000 people were arrested (within one     month of the event) and 1,984 prosecuted (within two months)."

In my attempt to understand these events, I have been grateful for the opportunity to speak with the Rev. Dr. Richard Sudworth, a senior interfaith advisor to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Dr. Dilwar Hussain, a professor of interfaith and intercultural relations at Coventry University and a founding chair of New Horizons in British Islam. Some of Dr. Hussain’s poignant reflections on these events can be found here. 

Dialogue Across Borders is pleased to publish an essay by our intern, Camilla Radwan, offering her perspective as a British Muslim who grew up in Oxfordshire. Camilla is a recent graduate from SOAS at the University of London, having studied Arabic, Turkish, Ottoman culture, and politics. In her piece, she argues that the riots and violence unfortunately have deeper and darker roots in British society and should not be interpreted as simply a spontaneous reaction to the Southport attack. 

More recently, clashes in Amsterdam surrounding the November 7th football match between the Dutch Ajax and Maccabi-Tel Aviv teams have also attracted global media attention with their connection to the conflict in Israel-Palestine-Lebanon that tragically continues to rage. Intern Lindy Dubben, a recent graduate from Leiden University in Middle Eastern studies and international relations who is now pursuing an MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration studies from the University of London, authored an analytical survey of Dutch media commentary on the clashes and provided a summary translation of a Dutch opinion piece from an Israeli scholar living in Amsterdam. We are grateful for these important contributions from both Lindy and Camilla. 

Last but not least, please note that the joint Arab-West Foundation/Anna Lindh Foundation dialogue conference, “Messages of Hope and Peace: Connecting for a Just Future for Palestine-Israel,” will take place tomorrow, November 25th, in The Hague (NL). The evening session from 7:00 - 9 pm CET can be viewed here.

Matthew Anderson

Director - Center for Arab-West Understanding

Executive Editor - Dialogue Across Borders (Brill)

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November 24, 2024