Dr Javed Bashir on his visit to Jerusalem

Dr Javed Bashir, from Keighley, has just returned from a visit there.

He said he saw Jerusalem, a holy site for Christians, Muslims and Jews, as a symbol of peace – something he has been working hard to promote in Bradford for decades.

Some of this work has included inviting people from South Asian and white British backgrounds to share a meal and speak to one another following the 2001 race riots, and his efforts to support vulnerable people and dispel many of the myths around Covid-19 during the 2020 lockdown.

“Jerusalem was on my bucket list – it’s a beautiful place. I felt peace there,” said Dr Bashir.

“The highlight for me, as a Muslim, was the Masjid Al-Aqsa. I never thought I’d ever set foot there, due to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

“The Muslim quarter was heavily guarded, as was the entrance into Al-Aqsa, and I felt uneasy passing the heavily armed Israeli security forces.

“The status and ownership of the Al-Aqsa compound is a highly contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both sides laying claim to the area.

The city of Jerusalem (Image: Javed Bashir)

“But being there was a unique experience, particularly after the dawn prayer at the Al-Qibli Mosque, where later, some local Palestinians offered us fresh dates to eat, and coffee blended with cardamom.

“I spent my time wandering throughout the historic areas, talking to shopkeepers, which was truly serene, largely peaceful and relatively security-free away from Al-Aqsa.”

Despite an amazing experience, Dr Bashir said he is grateful to be back in Bradford – a place which, although it may have some of the the same issues that many other cities have, is largely tolerant and welcoming.

“Since being back, I’ve thought about what freedom means — the ability to roam freely, and the privilege to shape our own destiny,” he said.

“We take this for granted and should be grateful for it.”

Jewish worshippers in Jerusalem (Image: Javed Bashir)

Dr Bashir’s return coincides with Holocaust Remembrance Day – a further reminder to be grateful for what we have.

“Holocaust Remembrance Day illustrates the dangers of prejudice,” Dr Bashir said.

“It reminds us how important it is to learn lessons from the Holocaust and the need to stand up and speak out against racism, anti-semitism, Islamophobia and other forms of intolerance.

“I strongly encourage all to experience Jerusalem, as that also holds so many histories and lessons that we can learn from.”