Interfaith Service for Muslim Soldiers

Wednesday May 1 2019

A joint Christian-Muslim service was held in the Highlands on Sunday to commemorate Indian soldiers who died during the Second World War.

The service was held in Kingussie Cemetery, which contains the graves of nine Muslim soldiers from the K6 Force Royal Indian Army Service Corps.

It was conducted by Sayed Razawi, Chief Imam and Director General of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society, and the Rev Catherine Buchan, Minister of Kingussie Parish Church; and organised in co-operation with the Royal British Legion Scotland. One of the attendees travelled from India for the service.

As well as commemorating the fallen, the event recognised the work of Isobel Harling, who has cared for the graves of the Muslim soldiers for over six decades, having watched some of the burials.

The Ahlul Bayt Society said on Facebook: “The solemn and emotional service gave dignitaries and residents of Kingussie, including the local Army Cadets, the chance to live an important lesson: to recognise the shared sacrifices made by Muslims and others that have shaped the world of today.

“We are grateful to Major Heather Lawrie for her guidance and tireless work to ensure the successful planning and execution of the event. We thank the Royal British Legion Scotland, particularly its President Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Stuart Hastings Irwin, KCB CBE, for their immense support and cooperation. Thank you also to the Church of Scotland for its support. And we thank Frank Ross, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, for provision of hospitality at The Silverfjord Hotel at Kingussie.

“We are grateful to the Highland Council convener Bill Lobban and other distinguished guests who laid wreaths to honour the fallen Muslim Soldiers.

“We would like to specially mention the son of the late Col Girdhari Singh, Captain Kuldeep Singh Solanki who came from India specifically to attend the service. And thank you to all who attended from Kingussie and the local council representatives.”

Force K6 was a mule transport corps. 13 Muslim soldiers from the corps are buried in Scotland, nine of them at Kingussie. Most died while they were in the Cairngorms for mountain training (after being evacuated from Dunkirk), from accidents or illness such as TB.

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