A recent UN report states that the UK’s treatment of disabled people ‘violates basic human rights’. Meanwhile more measures are being introduced to worsen the plight of the worst-off families, with grave consequences. These include a further-reduced cap on benefits for households in which no adult works full-time, and less cash for many too sick or disabled to work. The bedroom tax is to be inflicted on pensioners, and it may be made harder to get unlawful benefit decisions overturned. An earlier UN report pointed out further violations affecting those already disadvantaged. The findings from the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities highlight the urgent need for change. There is reliable evidence of ‘grave or systematic violations of the rights of persons with disabilities’. The core elements of the rights to independent living, being included in the community, adequate standards of living, social protection and rights to employment have been affected.

Churches joined the Prime Minister in assuring affected families of their prayers after five people died and 50+ were hospitalised when a tram tipped over in Croydon. Emergency services spent hours freeing trapped people. Theresa May said, ‘My thoughts and prayers are with all who have been affected. The Government is closely in touch with the emergency services to ensure that all that is necessary is being done.’ Tom Thompson, senior pastor at Croydon Vineyard church, said, ‘As the people of God, we want to stand up and say that we recognise this as a moment that requires our solidarity with our community'. The assistant priest at a local Catholic Church said, ‘People need a sympathetic ear, empathy, someone who perhaps can bring a different perspective to things; we are ready for people all the time, whether it's major or minor incidents in their lives.’

Jabed Hussain, from Acton, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey on Thursday to two counts of preparing terrorist acts after being caught at the Turkish border. The 22-year-old first attempted to reach the IS strongholds in August 2015, but was detained by Turkish authorities at the border and returned to the UK. Continue to pray for UK Police's Counter-Terrorism Command as more potential jihadists attempt to join IS in its territories, or return to the UK after being trained abroad. Last month it was reported that IS has been recruiting violent criminals and gang members across Europe in a dangerous new ‘crime-terror nexus’. Pray for Interpol and other agencies to thwart and close down terrorist cells wherever they attempt to spring up.

One of the first Saudi mosques in Europe is near Geneva. The Saudi Arabian-controlled Islamic World League (IWL) is rich in money and influence in Switzerland, spreading an interpretation of Islam which is a breeding ground for radicalism. IWL supports Muslims across the world, especially in the West where the number of Muslims is growing steadily. There are two centres in Switzerland linked to IWL, and thirty mosques loosely connected. They believe that Wahhabism is the only true Islam. Wahhabism is the reactionary branch of Islam and said to be 'the main source of global terrorism'. According to scholars, ‘Wahhabism is a doctrine that does not take account of today's achievements such as human rights or individual rights’.