Memorial service was held at Finsbury Park Mosque on June 19 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the anti-Muslim terror attack in north London. (Credit: FPM)

Elham Asaad Buaras

A memorial service was held at Finsbury Park Mosque (FPM) on June 19 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the anti-Muslim terror attack in north London.

Makram Ali, 51, died and twelve were injured when Darren Osb

orne ploughed a van into worshippers gathered outside the Muslim Welfare House (MWH) shortly after evening Ramadan prayers in 2017. Ali’s daughter, Ruzina Akhtar, was among those remembering her father’s life. The service was followed by a visit to the Clifton Court Garden, where a wreath was placed next to the memorial plaque and a tree was planted in Ali’s name.

Also in attendance was the Chair of FPM, Mohammed Kozbar, who told The Muslim News the event “brought hard and painful memories”” for the victims, some of whom “still carry a life-changing injury.”

He paid tribute to the family of Ali,“who lost a husband, a father and a grandfather.”
On the wider issue of Islamophobia, he said, “The problem we are facing now is that since this attack took place, not much has been changed in tackling Islamophobia, as we have been promised by the government at that time that actions and steps will be taken seriously to tackle this disease called Islamophobia. We do not even have an official definition of Islamophobia yet.”Former Labour Leader,

Jeremy Corbyn MP, as well as Emily Thornberry, Labour MP for Islington South, and Finsbury, and Shadow Attorney General, also attended the event.

The Leader of Islington Council Kaya Comer-Schwartz, the Assistant Commissioner of the Police AC Matt Jukes, the Assistant Secretary-General of the MCB Dr Wajid Akhter, the CEO of MWH Toufiq Kacimi, the Chair of IFF Elizabeth Chappell, were all in attendance.

In a statement to The Muslim News, Islington Council said, ”We stand together and condemn this hateful act that took place five years ago and reaffirm our commitment to building a community of understanding, mutual support, and love. This terror attack set out to divide our communities. It failed and instead brought us closer together. We stand united in our determination to take action to end racial injustice, challenge inequality wherever we find it, and continue to stand alongside all our communities, to make Islington a more equal place.”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said his thoughts were with the victims and their loved ones, adding that “London stands united against terrorism” on the fifth anniversary of the attack.