From the Scotsman
By Michael HowieMore at the Scotsman
MUSLIM leaders have offered to stand guard outside a Scottish synagogue after it was vandalised in an alleged anti-Semitic attack.
Two men have appeared in court in connection with the attack on the synagogue in Edinburgh last week, when several window panes were smashed.
Scottish Islamic Foundation chairman Ken Imrie has written to Rabbi David Rose of the Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation to voice the group's "revulsion and horror" at the attack.
"We trust you have adequate security arrangements in place, in line with places of worship across the country. If not, such is our strength of feeling on this matter, we would wish to physically guard the synagogue ourselves," he added in the letter.
It is the second time the Newington synagogue, which serves an estimated 700-strong Jewish community in Edinburgh, has come under attack in seven years and comes amid a reported increase in the number of anti-Semitic attacks in Scotland and across the UK following the recent conflict in Gaza.
The Scottish Islamic Foundation's offer to provide security at the synagogue is intended as a show of strength between the two religious communities in a bid to prevent further unrest.
Mr Imrie wrote in his letter: "We wish you to know that the Muslim community stand full square with you in revulsion and horror at this vandalism. To violently damage any building is wrong. That this is a respected place of worship, faith and spirituality makes the crime even more heinous."
Mosque leaders are to be briefed on the incident so they can echo the sentiments of Mr Imrie's letter during prayers tomorrow.
Rabbi Rose could not be reached last night, but other Jewish representatives welcomed the offer.
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