Muslim and Jewish leaders in Hong Kong bridge a difficult divide

At the end of a week that has seen Islamic State terror plumb new depths of horror, Hong Kong's Muslim and Jewish leaders have hailed a growing sense of interfaith cooperation in the city.

Leaders of both communities - Hong Kong is home to 300,000 Muslims and 7,000 Jews - say the atmosphere of friendship and collaboration at a time of unprecedented global tension is illustrated by the fact that rabbis are welcome to preach in mosques and imams in synagogues.

The unusual situation is borne out of the tragic events of New York on September 11 2001, the immediate aftermath of which saw meetings between leaders of both communities which became a permanent feature in subsequent years.

"Interfaith dialogue is important insofar as you understand each other closely, and that you take their glass of water. It means you are accepting them, and they are accepting you," said Hong Kong's chief imam, Muhammad Arshad. "Sometimes the barriers that have been made by man are removed."

Asher Oser, the rabbi of Ohel Leah Synagogue in Mid-Levels, felt proud that he could send a "powerful" message to constituent communities by seeing the imam and rabbi get along.

"We're comfortable with each other. We're friendly with each other. [Our worshippers] know that and it's very important," said the rabbi, in a separate interview with the Sunday Morning Post in the city's only free-standing place of worship for the Jewish community.