A PEACE vigil to promote peace and harmony will be held in Burnley tomorrow evening.

People of all faiths are invited to show solidarity with the victims of recent atrocities which have taken place in Nice, France, Kashmir and Turkey.

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It is organised by Burnley MP Julie Cooper and Lancashire County Councillor Dr Misfar Hassan.

Dr Hassan said: "There has been a lot of violence in one of the areas in Kashmir. Quite a few people have been killed and they have been protesting for their rights.

"We're also commemorating the killings in Nice and elsewhere in the world. It's an inclusive peace vigil."

He said there will be speeches by himself and Julie Cooper as well as Christian and Muslim prayers led by faith leaders.

"It's to show solidarity and to let the people know what is going on and express our own thoughts about people who are dying all over the world - human beings who are losing their lives at a very young age without any good reason. That's the main thought behind this vigil."

Julie Cooper MP said there are about 500 families in Burnley with families in Kashmir.

She said: “They have got family members over there who are suffering with children going short of food because of the curfew and men being shot in the eye to blind them.  

“There are some awful things happening – the attacks in Nice and the deaths as a result of what is happening in Turkey. We thought it would be an appropriate thing to do.”

Thousands have been injured in Kashmir following protests after the death of a rebel leader earlier this month and the Indian government has imposed an indefinite curfew in most parts.

Mrs Cooper added: “This is a legacy of the British Empire. We have a moral responsibility to try and solve this.”

The event will take place at the Burnley Peace Gardens opposite the Burnley Central Library in Peace Street from 7pm and will be followed by interfaith prayers for peace.

All are welcome.