Atiff Ghafar, 32, organised a recent lecture called from Faith to Tribe at the Al Habib Islamic Centre in Swindon’s Chapel Street, in a bid to promote unity and respect between faiths. Atiff, a market analyst with Intel, lives in Coleview

THE pro-tolerance meeting organised by Atiff Ghafar came as just as the political fallout from the San Bernardino terrorist attack reached its nastiest heights.

If the turnout at the gathering revealed anything, it was a profound desire for the very opposite of discord.

“It went very well,” said Atiff. “I was quite surprised, actually, with how well it went.

“I didn’t expect such a big turnout for the meeting. We were only expecting about 50 people but it was so lovely to see what must have been over a hundred people.

“It was lovely to see so many people from different backgrounds, so a big thank you goes to all the churches, the multi-faith organisations and all those people who helped to promote the event. Without them we wouldn’t have been so successful.

“What was surprising was that of the questions we got afterwards, 90 per cent were from people who were not of the Islamic faith. It just goes to show that people just want to understand – they want to know, they want to know more about you, more about your faith.

“With understanding you can bridge the divides that are being created.

“In today’s day and age we see there’s a lot of information but there’s a lot of misinformation, a lot of misconceptions and a lack of knowledge. This is what causes some of the divides created between societies.”

The desire for mutual understanding is a strong aspect of Atiff’s own religious life.

“I am a practicing Muslim. I practice my faith. It’s close to my heart and something I really do believe in – something that’s formed and shaped most of my life.

“It’s for the inward journey that a person takes. It’s more spiritual and something that helps me.

“It provides a spiritual compass, helps me grow inside myself, look at the things that I do wrong in terms of my own character and look to correct myself more than correct other people.

“Also, whilst changing yourself you look to change society to be better and more tolerant.” Atiff is only too aware, though, that all too often it is the bigots from all points in the ideological spectrum who make the most noise and attract more than their fair share of attention.

“There’s a lot of ignorance out there. They seem to attract a lot of attention and to get the headlines in the newspapers and the media outlets.

“To dispel that you need to be able to do some good, to make some positive change in your own societies and your own communities – to show that this is not the way the world is meant to be.

“The rhetoric that’s coming out is not good for anyone on any side. It creates more division, and that is not what we’re supposed to be on the Earth for.

“We’re here to get to know one another and to be friends and be friendly to each other.

“There are two extremes here. One you have is far right, extreme Islamophobic groups, the likes of Britain First – and now you could say Donald Trump. But then you also have extremists on the other side, the likes of Daesh or ISIS who are making the situation worse for everybody.

“There are people who are stuck in the middle. Some are Muslim but have no affiliation to Daesh or what they’re doing. Then you have people who are from, you might say, a secular background or a Christian background and they also have no affiliation to the likes of Britain First or Pegida [an anti-Islamic group which began in Germany], who are launching in the UK now.

“People get stuck in the middle and they seem to be forced to choose between one side and the other – but I don’t think that’s the case.

“You need to adopt the middle ground and have a moderation in your opinions – mutual respect.”

Atiff was raised in the Broad Street area of the town centre. After attending Drove School he studied Business Information Systems at Bristol University.

As both a Swindonian and a market analyst he finds the history of the town and the progress of its economy fascinating.

“I have been brought up in this town. I’ve seen it grow in size and in terms of aspects of living and the way people do things here.

“In terms of quality of life here, I believe it’s got better. The outlet village is an excellent addition to the town. It provides a lovely place to go shopping and lovely food outlets. Then the renovation that’s been done at the Swindon College site is a brilliant addition.

“Now we’re hearing about the development of North Star – they want to put in a hotel and a ski slope there.

“I think things like that will do a lot for the town and provide a better image.”

He also praises his home town’s tolerance. He has experienced no Islamophobia or other prejudice in Swindon, although he readily acknowledges that others have.

“Relative to other places, though, I don’t think Swindon is a bad place to be in.”

Atiff remains optimistic about the future of interfaith relations and multiculturalism.

“I’m hopeful that we as a society, as people living in this country, in this town, we’ll be able to develop an understanding and continue to stay away from the extremes some people are trying to push us towards.

“I’m sure we can stay away from those extremes.

“Everyone has a duty to look after their neighbours, to look after the elderly, to look after themselves, and to be able to come together and understand each other’s points of view.

“It’s all about having the mutual respect to be able to accept that.

“There are people on this planet who are not going to have the same view as you, so you need to make sure you are able to tolerate and understand that.”