Sheikh Ghassan and Rabbi Mordechai prepare on the train to Springhill prison

The Muslim inmates eagerly gathered around Ghassan to speak with him in urgent, hushed Arabic while Mordechai and I made our presentations.

After all of us had spoken there was a Question and Answer period, and initially the tone of the inmate’s “questions”, which were directed at Mordechai, began as wounded and sceptical challenges that bordered on being aggressive.

But Ghassan immediately stepped in to skilfully navigate their hostility, and soothe them with quotes from the Quran and the Hadith.

He appealed to their innate desire for peace in ways that were culturally familiar for them, and once they felt their pain had been heard and responded to, they began to soften and calm down.

As Ghassan continued to raise their consciousness to a higher level, they gradually began to open their hearts to Mordechai (their preconceived enemy) and our other speakers, and an atmosphere of trust, hope and camaraderie began to take over.

By the time the evening was winding down the inmates were asking, “Are there more people like you?” “Are there more people who believe

Sheikh Ghassan and Rabbi Mordechai prepare on the train to Springhill prison

what you believe?” In other words, “Is it really safe, and possible, to love one another?” As they hugged Ghassan and Mordechai goodbye, and shook my hand, they admitted what “a good guy” Mordechai was, and they shared that they had never met people like us, and this evening offered them the possibility to consider a new ending to an old story that always left them feeling like the victim.  They asked how they could get in touch with us when they “get out.”

The authorities and staff at Springhill also immediately came forward at the end of the program to discuss our next steps together regarding offering programs, and in-depth trainings, here, and in other prisons they are responsible for.

As we packed our things to leave, we could finally exhale and thank the dedicated staff at Springhill.  We send a special thanks to Chaplain Co-ordinator Brenda Davies and Yvonne Dixon for their support of the Abrahamic Reunion.

Shrabani Basu, the tour de force behind the Noor un Nisa statue campaign joined us and opened the evening with a short talk on Noor’s life. Shrabani enthralled the prisoners with stories of Noor’s bravery and astonishing resilience.

The service honoured the different faith with readings, music and a candle being lit for each of the faiths. During the service we were encouraged to reflect upon our unique lives. Gulrukh gave a most inspiring sermon in which she conveyed Noor’s last word ‘liberte’. She then asked us all to contemplate what our last words might be. Then, once we’d recognised them, to enquire whether our lives were being lived in alignment with these words. Gazing around the room, I saw many eyes lighting up at this invitation. I then felt the power of participating in this self-enquiry together.

The feedback from the prisoners and staff was really positive; they remarked what a great opportunity it was for all to share in Noor’s inspirational story and that having the Universal Worship Service had illustrated the need and possibility of further interfaith dialogue.

Michael Kenton, who was a driving force behind the service, shared some anecdotes with me; apparently the governor had said that if any of the audience had wished to walk out at any time they certainly could have, so clearly everyone enjoyed the experience. He added to that, considering Spurs and Liverpool were playing that night he was most surprised that so many prisoners attended.

I circulated amongst the prisoners during the refreshments and received many questions and compliments about the service.

Britain’s first memorial to an Asian woman.

Two weeks later during remembrance week, the unveiling of a bust of Noor Inayat Khan by HRH The Princess Royal in London’s Gordon Square took place. The Khan family once lived on the square and Noor would have strolled in its gardens. Veterans of both the SOE and WAAF including Irene Warner, 91, who trained with Noor, were among the 300 who came out to honour her.

This momentous occasion was the result of 2 years of fundraising and campaigning by Shrabani Basu and her collaborators, whom she lovingly calls ‘Team Noor’. Shrabani in her welcoming address thanked all the supporters for bringing Noor back to Gordon Square, and then invited Princess Anne to conduct ceremonious proceedings.

After the unveiling, which was met with great applause, Princess Anne honoured Noor’s sacrifice saying stories such as Noor’s are ‘remarkable in their own right’ but have a real connection to make with the modern age through their ‘multi-cultural aspect’. HRH added that she hoped that the statue would serve as a reminder, encouraging people to ask; who was she? Why she was there? And, what could be achieved in her memory?

A deeply moving closing message from Hidayat Inayat-Khan then followed, read with great tenderness by his grandson Omar Inayat Khan. In his address Pia Hidayat paid tribute to his beloved sister’s passionate call for liberty for which she paid the ultimate price. He appealed to us to keep at heart the great ideals of harmony, which are so much needed in this troubled world today. A world in which concepts of human rights have not yet been understood by all as being the only truest guaranty for an everlasting peace among nations..

To close a single bugle played the last post followed by a poignant silence.

Sheikh ul Masheikh Mahmood Khan and his wife Harunissa came from their home in the Netherlands to be present. In an interview he commented; ‘Everyone – British, Indian and beyond – can take pride in what Noor did.”

It’s difficult to convey my feelings surrounding this occasion as at times I was overcome with emotion, but perhaps I could best describe the atmosphere as being pervaded with the dignity, courage, graciousness and nobility of soul that was Noor’s very essence.

Adapted by Michael Kenton from an article by Anne Marie Terry