A Gaza memorial in Leeds has been closed by the Church of England. This decision follows claims by Jewish representatives that the tribute included names of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants.
The 25 militants identified in the "Stitch Their Names Together" tapestry
The "Stitch Their Names Together" memorial at Leeds Minster featured at least 90 panels containing 16,800 names.. According to the Leeds Jewish Representative Council, researchers identified at least 25 individuals on the tapestry who were fighters for Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Among the names highlighted was Hatem Suleiman Abu Sharia, a 28-year-old linked to the Mujahideen Brigades, and Salah Shaaban Ismail, a 50-year-old who led a sniper unit for Islamic Jihad. The report also identified Hamdi Saeed Yousef Toulan, a 39-year-old Hamas field commander killed in December 2024, as one of the figures included in the display.
Canon Paul Maybury’s "complex history" remarks and the vetting lapse
Leeds Minster Rector Canon Paul Maybury faced significant backlash after a video appeared to show him interacting with Jewish protesters. During the encounter, Maybury reportedly described the history of the conflict as "complex" when asked to denounce the October 7 kidnappings. He also reportedly declined to comment on the fate of the Bibas family, which drew sharp condemnation from victims' relatives.
The controversy has placed the Church's vetting processes under intense scrutiny. While Canon Maybury later issued a statement condemning all violence and the taking of hostages, the initial handling of the exhibition has left many questioning the institution's oversight.
A pattern of vetting failures from Dame Sarah Mullally to Leeds Minster
This incident at Leeds Minster is not an isolated event for the Church of England. The organization recently faced a similar crisis involving the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, who had to withdraw an award from Muslim cleric Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi after he was found to have praised Osama bin Laden.
These recurring issues suggest a broader struggle within the Church to manage sensitive political and religious affiliations. Leo Brosh of the Jewish Leadership Council warned that such incidents could damage relations between British Christians and Jews at a time of rising anti-Semitism in the United Kingdom.
Who is responsible for the failure to vet 16,800 names?
Several critical questions remain unanwered following the closure of the exhibition. It is still unclear why the Leeds Minster staff failed to conduct basic checks on the names before the memorial was displayed to the public.. Furthermore, the Church of England has not yet provided a comment on the latest controversy, leaving the official perspective unverified.
Observers are also left wondering how the Church will implement new protocols to prevent similar lapses in the future. Without a clear explanation of how 25 militants were included in a religious tribute, the institution faces a significant credibility gap.
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