By Rachel Avraham
When news broke on October 2, 2025, that a synagogue in Manchester had been attacked on Yom Kippur, the Muslim world watched with a mix of horror, empathy, and internal reflection. Unlike the West, where coverage was immediate and widespread, many Muslim-majority countries and communities responded more cautiously — issuing statements, holding vigils, or staying muted, depending on political climate and media control.
In many Muslim-majority states, foreign ministries swiftly issued condemnations of “hate-motivated violence” or “attacks on places of worship.” Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying: “We strongly condemn the attack. Crimes against synagogues or other houses of worship are always intolerable.” he Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates also issued similar statements, emphasizing the importance of religious tolerance.
However, some responses were muted or delayed in countries with internal tensions: In Pakistan, media debated whether to offer solidarity or avoid being perceived as aligning with Western narratives. Iran’s state media ran brief reports, but domestically focused more on global antisemitism patterns than on Manchester specifically.
Some states used the event to underscore their own narratives: Egypt compared it to attacks on mosques in other parts of the world, calling for global protection of religious minorities. Jordan used the opportunity to reaffirm its role as a custodian of historical interfaith sites.
In sum, official reactions varied — many sincere, a few opportunistic, all filtered through domestic politics. Within the Ummah, religious leaders often spoke out more strongly than governments: In the UK and Europe, Muslim community groups joined Jewish congregations in vigils, stating: “An attack on one faith is an attack on all faiths.” Some prominent imams emphasized that Islam strictly prohibits violence against innocents, including in places of worship.
On Twitter, X, and Instagram, hashtags like #MuslimsStandWithJews and #ManchesterSynagogue trended in some Muslim-majority countries. Some users shared prayers, condemnation, and calls for unity. Others warned against being used as political or PR tools, especially in geopolitically contested zones.
In several cities — like Cairo, Istanbul, and Jakarta — mosques held collective prayers for the victims. Interfaith dialogues were revived, and Jewish-Muslim forums issued joint statements condemning hatred.
In contrast, in places with high tension (Palestine, Kashmir, parts of Nigeria), local media often prioritized domestic conflicts over distant tragedies. In authoritarian regimes (e.g. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE), media outlets are often state-controlled. Thus, coverage was constrained — official statements were permitted, analysis was cautious, and critical commentary was rare.
Some governments may hesitate to react strongly to events in the West to avoid being accused of aligning with Western agendas. In countries with strained relations with the West, loud condemnation could be spun politically against them.
In some communities, the reaction included a silent counter-narrative: “The world speaks loud when Jews are attacked, but not when mosques are bombed.” This sentiment reflects a painful reality: Muslims in many regions feel their tragedies often go unnoticed or underreported.
Hence, the Manchester attack was sometimes viewed through the lens of inequality of media attention, not just criminality.
The Muslim world’s reaction to the Manchester synagogue attack was a mosaic of empathy, caution, and complexity. Official statements, religious exhortations, grassroots responses and strategic silence — all reflected the tensions Muslim societies face when responding to tragedies in the West.
Journalism in the Muslim world must learn to strike balance: to condemn unequivocally, to support interfaith solidarity, and to inspect its own galvanizing narratives. Manchester showed one thing: hatred anywhere wounds faith everywhere.
Photo from Global News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am1i0_hRIZI
