A wreath is laid remembering Makram Ali

EDUCATION is needed to stop radicalisation, says the daughter of a man who died in a terrorist attack.

Makram Ali, 51, was hit and killed by a van driven by far-right terrorist Darren Osborne as he made his way home from Muslim Welfare House, next to Finsbury Park station, after attending even­ing prayers six years ago this month.

At a memorial in event Clifton Gardens last Monday his daughter, Ruzina Akhtar, told the Tribune that students need real-world exposure to other faiths to increase tolerance and understanding.

“In schools, they teach religious education, but how much is taken in by children and what real experience are they getting of other faiths in the classroom?” she said.

“We need faith leaders going into schools more and talking about their religion. As children grow up, they know about the different religions, they understand that just because one Muslim might attack a group of people it doesn’t mean all Muslims are like that, and that one person doesn’t define everyone.”

Makram Ali

Ms Akhtar said better education will help communities stand united against terrorism.

“We need to show these perpetrators that the community and support for one another is strong, and that’s the only way we can make these perpetrators afraid about coming up against these communities,” she said.

Mohammed Kozbar, chair of Finsbury Park Mosque, also spoke at the event and echoed Ms Akhtar’s sentiments of solidarity: “This tiny minority of extremists try to divide us, and spread hate, fear, and division. At least here in Finsbury Park we can say they did not succeed.”

Ruzina Akhtar

Friends and family of Mr Ali, as well as Islington councillors and Islington’s mayor, Gary Heather, attended the memorial event where a wreath was laid in honour of Mr Ali. One of his friends, and a survivor of the attack, said: “I miss his smile at prayer times most.”

Brendan Cox, whose wife Jo Cox was murdered by far-right extremist Thomas Mair in 2016, also spoke at the memorial.

He said: “I felt very connected to what happened here six years ago for two reasons. One, because the night before, I know that Mr Ali and many others from this community were part of organising an event in memory of my late wife. And then the day after this attack, I and several other people came up to the mosque and organised giving out flowers to people on their way into worship as an act of solidarity.”

Brendan Cox

He added: “These attacks are not just random. They’re not just hate crimes. As awful as hate crimes are, these attacks are designed to try and achieve something, designed to turn us against each other. We’ve talked quite a lot about diversity today, and diversity is absolutely critical and important, and the even more important thing is togetherness.”

Council leader Kaya Comer-Schwartz said: “It’s really important that we are never complacent about the right-wing threat that is ever present, sadly. And, we know, given the rhetoric around migration, and other things, that it can play out so easily.

“We must be constantly showing that in Islington, we’re about love and community and togetherness.”