King Charles III has hailed the signing of a landmark agreement aimed at strengthening ties between Jewish and Muslim communities in the UK. Dubbed the Drumlanrig Accord, the agreement was presented to the King at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday after being signed by faith leaders at Spencer House in London. The King described the initiative as a “marvellous exercise”, welcoming the religious leaders in a gesture of support for interfaith cooperation.
The King received Muslim and Jewish faith leaders at Buckingham Palace today, in recognition of their work developing new Muslim-Jewish Reconciliation Accords, which were signed earlier in the day.
The ‘Drumlanrig Accord’ sets out a framework for collaboration and… pic.twitter.com/Y6KGgjHISy
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) February 11, 2025
The Accord was the result of a historic summit held last month at Drumlanrig Castle in Scotland, where 11 religious leaders from various Jewish and Muslim denominations gathered for discussions on interfaith relations. Hosted by the Duke of Buccleuch, the summit aimed to rebuild trust, foster dialogue, and create a structured framework for collaboration between the two communities.
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Addressing Tensions and Fostering Cooperation
The meeting at Drumlanrig Castle brought together representatives from different Jewish and Muslim sects, including Shia, Sunni, Orthodox, Reform, Masorti, and Sephardi communities. The discussions focused on addressing global tensions, particularly the impact of Middle Eastern conflicts on local relations between British Muslims and Jews.
In a statement, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis emphasized the importance of the agreement:
“The Drumlanrig Accords represent a bold first step towards rebuilding meaningful trust between Muslim and Jewish communities over the long term. They do not gloss over our differences; they acknowledge them. But they also send out a powerful message that in times of division, when it is far easier to retreat into fear and suspicion, we are prepared to take the more challenging path to reconciliation.”
Chief Imam Dr Sayed Razawi, who played a key role in convening the summit, echoed this sentiment:
“As people of faith, we have a duty to rise above division and lead with wisdom, compassion, and unity. This accord is not just a statement; it is a commitment to healing, to dialogue, and to disagreeing agreeably.”
The Accord acknowledges the shared spiritual heritage of both faiths, their common values rooted in justice and monotheism, and their responsibility to counter rising Islamophobia and antisemitism.
Framework for Practical Collaboration
The Drumlanrig Accord is not merely symbolic but serves as a blueprint for future cooperation. It outlines a structured framework for engagement, ensuring that both communities work together on practical initiatives aimed at tackling social issues, including poverty, discrimination, and community isolation.
Observers hope that the agreement will lead to the creation of a joint body to monitor antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents in the UK. The commitment to sustained interfaith collaboration will extend to local communities, university campuses, and national institutions.
Among the key figures involved in the Accord were:
- Jewish Leaders: Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Rabbi Josh Levy, Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Senior Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg OBE, Senior Rabbi Joseph Dweck, and Rabbi Moshe Rubin.
- Muslim Leaders: Chief Imam Dr Sayed Razawi, Senior Imam Qari Asim, Imam Sheikh Muhammad Ismail, Head Imam Dr Sheikh Khalifa Ezzat, Naushad Jivraj (Aga Khan National Council), and Kinana Jamaluddin Bhai Sahib.
- The UK Faith Minister, Lord Khan of Burnley, as well as representatives from the UK and Scottish Governments and the European Commission, attended the discussions as observers. Scotland’s First Minister also addressed the gathering on the final evening.
King’s Endorsement and Next Steps
At Buckingham Palace, King Charles engaged warmly with faith leaders, reaffirming his commitment to interfaith unity. When Sir Ephraim Mirvis thanked him for his support, the King replied: “It’s the least I could do, you know that.”
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The signing of the Drumlanrig Accord marks a significant milestone in Jewish-Muslim relations in the UK, but faith leaders stress that the real work begins now. Rabbi Josh Levy emphasized the need to turn words into action, building lasting structures to strengthen ties between the two communities at all levels of society.