To coincide with St George's Day (23 April), a coalition of English faith groups and campaigners has released a statement calling for the patron Saint of England to be reclaimed from 'the extreme Right', those who use him 'to promote racism and extremism'.
 

Instead, St George 'needs to take his rightful place as a national symbol of inclusivity rather than a symbol of hatred', says the statement.

The statement points out that St George actually lived before the birth of Islam and should not be associated with any hatred of Muslims. He is respected by many people in the Middle East because of his origins there.

It calls on 'people of goodwill' to stand up against 'the hijacking of a national hero by those who promote Islamophobia, antisemitism and other forms of discrimination'; to oppose the modern 'dragons' of hatred and intolerance, and to say 'As the diverse people of England, we are comfortable with difference, and each other. St George's Day is a time for highlighting harmony and peaceful national pride.'

BUGB and the London Baptist Association are among the signatories, alongside the Christian Muslim Forum, the Islamic Society of Britain and the Muslim Council of Britain.

The statement is below:

"St George should be a figure of national unity and pride. That's why we - a coalition of English faith groups and campaigners - are 'reclaiming' England's patron saint and demanding he becomes representative of all English peoples.
 

We demand him back from those who promote racism and extremism, and from those who say that St George can only represent a single ethnic group.

We want to promote a new, relaxed and confident, English national identity. A place where a hijab is as welcome as bangers and mash, and no-one is attacked for their race, religion (or lack thereof) or any other belief.

That is why this St George's Day we are reclaiming St George.

As patron saint for England, St George is there for everyone living in England. Too often he has been hijacked and used as a symbol of triumphalism and division by those on the extreme Right. St George needs to take his rightful place as a national symbol of inclusivity rather than a symbol of hatred.

Although the English national flag, bearing the Cross of St George, was carried by the Crusaders, St George actually lived before the birth of Islam and should not be associated with any hatred of Muslims. He is respected by many people in the Middle East because of his origins there.
Therefore on St George's Day, we call upon all people of goodwill to join us in:

Signatories:

Al-Khoei FoundationBaptist Union of Great Britain

Christian Muslim Forum
City Sikhs Network

London Muslim Centre
Faith Matters
HOPE not hate
Islamic Society of Britain
Joseph Interfaith Foundation
London Baptist Association
London Boroughs Faith Network
Majlis-e-Ulama Europe
Muslim Council of Britain
Radical Middle Way
Religions for Peace UK
St Philip's Centre
Three Faiths Forum
Woman's Voice
Individuals:
Liz Carnelley, Programme Director, Near Neighbours

Hifsa Haroon-Iqbal MBE

Follow on Twitter: #stgeorge4all

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