‘Sick to my stomach’: Local politicians condemn ‘hateful’ letter sent to Hackney mosque following earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

Transport boss Cllr Mete Coban (right) and Mayor Philip Glanville were among those to pour scorn on the letter. Photograph: Hackney Council

Politicians have condemned a “hateful” letter sent to a Hackney mosque following earthquakes in Turkey and Syria which killed thousands of people.

The typed letter was delivered to the Turkish Cypriot mosque in Dalston to a community already reeling from the horrific death toll.

At least 45,000 people are believed to have died, with thousands more injured and made homeless by the disaster.

Hackney has one of the UK’s largest Turkish communities in the UK and has also welcomed Syrian refugees.

Hackney Mayor Philip Glanville and Cllr Susan Fajana-Thomas, the cabinet member for community safety, said: “We are sickened by reports of the letter.”

They added: “This doesn’t reflect the community spirit that exists or the sense of shock and heartbreak at the tragic scenes we have seen in Turkey and Syria following the earthquake.”

Families in Hackney have been bereaved by the disaster.

The Mayor and Cllr Fajana-Thomas said: “We must not let the kind of hatred contained in the letters cloud the support the people of this area need from us and the rest of the world at this moment.”

Cllr Mete Coban, cabinet member for environment and transport, said he was “sick to my stomach to hear about this racist and Islamophobic letter”.

He added: “Hackney has no place for hate and we won’t stand for it.”

He recently joined the mayor and Haringey leader Peray Ahmet for an evening of prayer to remember those who have died.

Police are investigating the letter.

Meanwhile, support for the communities affected by the earthquakes continues.

Hackney Council is working with community groups and schools to give affected children mental health and trauma support.

The Mildmay Club in Newington Green was just one venue that held a fundraiser last weekend.

A pop-up stall organised by Turkish families on the De Beauvoir estate raised £1,000.

The De Beauvoir Association has arranged a concert at St Peter De Beauvoir church on Saturday 4 March.

Songs of Support has been organised alongside other community groups and the church itself.

Tickets cost £15 and proceeds will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Find out more, including how to book, here.