Bishop of Chelmsford Stands with Jewish Leaders Against Antisemitism

Bishop of Chelmsford Voices Concern Over Rising Antisemitism

Amidst a concerning rise in antisemitic incidents, the Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, has taken a public stance with Jewish leaders in east London. The Iranian-born bishop used this gathering to express solidarity with the Jewish community, highlighting the pressing issue at hand.

In collaboration with seven local Jewish rabbis, Bishop Francis-Dehqani issued a statement expressing her alarm at the surge in antisemitism. Among the troubling events, an attack in April resulted in two Orthodox Jewish men being stabbed. Fortunately, both survived, and the alleged perpetrator, Essa Suleiman, is slated for trial next year.

This year has also witnessed several arson attacks targeting Jewish properties, including the significant case of two Jewish ambulances being torched in March.

The rise in antisemitic acts is believed to be linked to ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts, particularly those involving Israel, with tensions escalating from the campaign in Gaza and recent hostilities with Iran.

Bishop Francis-Dehqani, whose family fled Iran during her adolescence, has previously denounced the war on Iran as “unjust and illegal.” Nevertheless, she maintains that these circumstances do not justify aggression against Jewish individuals in daily life.

The meeting with local rabbis was an effort to foster stronger bonds between Christian and Jewish communities. The joint statement from this meeting emphasized their unified stance: “We are deeply troubled by the growing number of antisemitic incidents – including occasions where bystanders have not come to the aid of Jewish people under attack.”

Further, the statement stressed a shared commitment to address and combat antisemitism, rooted in the belief that “every person is made in the image of God and deserves dignity and respect.”

The Community Security Trust (CST), a Jewish organization, reported that 2025 saw 3,700 antisemitic incidents, marking the second-highest annual total recorded. The CST also noted a doubling of incidents following the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023.