AS honorary secretary of Altrincham Interfaith Group, I am used to getting emails from both local and national sources about incidents that happen in the UK, but I was not prepared for the phone call the other day that told me about the incident at the Altrincham mosque, when Dr Nasser Kurdy was attacked and stabbed.

I know Dr Kurdy well, he is a highly respected orthopaedic surgeon and much loved member and imam of the mosque, and I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

As requested, I put out a notice to all members of Altrincham Interfaith Group, informing them of the incident and asking them to remember Dr Kurdy in their prayers.

I was not prepared, however, for the inrush of emails that arrived in my inbox from members of ALL the faith communities in the Altrincham and Hale area, and even further afield, expressing concern and sending good wishes to Dr Kurdy.

I forwarded them to my contact at the mosque so that they would reach Dr Kurdy, and the following day a Peace and Unity Gathering was held at the mosque, attended by over 100 people of all faiths.

It is wonderful that such an outflowing of concern has resulted from this evil act. It shows more clearly than anything that hate can never win, it simply draws people more closely together, and we at Altrincham Interfaith should be proud to be members of a group that stands together in love and solidarity in the face of adversity in this way.

Carolyn Jones

Hon. Sec. Altrincham Interfaith Group and

Member of Dunham Road Unitarian Chapel.