Dates of Interest
Syriac Catholic Murders in Baghdad
Published date: 10th November 2010
As the Presidents of the Christian Muslim Forum we condemn the attack on the Syriac Catholic Church in Baghdad on 31 October which resulted in the deaths of at least 46 worshippers, including priests. We strongly emphasise that any attack on Christians or any innocent people is not condoned by Islam, the Qur’an or the example of the Prophet Muhammad. In fact, Islamic teaching safeguards the rights and security both of the innocent and of places of worship. The terrorists who committed these murders do not act or speak for Islam and should not be seen as representing Islam in any way. We also condemn the threats of suicide bombing by ‘The Islamic State of Iraq’ (an al-Qaeda affiliate) against the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.
We also support the faithful presence of the ancient Christian churches in Muslim countries in the Middle East. These indigenous Christian communities predate the arrival of Islam in Iraq, Egypt and other countries and they have lived and worshipped alongside Muslims for nearly 1400 years. This faithful coexistence is the shared and valuable legacy of all Christians and Muslims and we strongly support their continuing presence.
We acknowledge that the good values of religion can become lost, or hijacked, at times of war, suffering, inequality and oppression and that it is the role and responsibility of religious leaders, people of faith and all people of good will to emphasise what is best in all our different traditions and world-views in order to build peace. This is the task and commitment that we have taken on through our leading roles in the Christian Muslim Forum and in other areas of our professional and religious responsibilities.
We therefore:
1. Urge all people of faith and goodwill to see beyond hate, hostility, extremism and terrorism and not judge any religion, especially in this case Islam, by the violent and destructive acts of those who claim allegiance to a religion but deny it through their actions.
2. Draw attention to the resources Christianity and Islam have in their traditions, scriptures and wise, courageous and gentle leadership to bring peace rather than war.
3. Ask all who associate religions with hatred, bloodshed and war to look deeper into their all-pervading messages of peace with God, neighbour and the stranger.
4. Commend all genuine peace-building and inter-religious initiatives as antidotes to extremism, violence and terrorism and pray that the example of friendship and peaceful living together is seen as more ultimately more powerful than acts of hatred.
5. Ask the governments of Muslim countries to make every effort to protect their Christian communities where they are threatened by terrorists and extremists
6. Ask our own Government to recognise the legitimate case for asylum of Christians fleeing oppression, persecution, death threats and terrorism in Middle Eastern and other countries
The Christian Muslim Forum is currently planning an event, with Muslim and Christian partners, bringing together Christians and Muslims from the West, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries to explore joint action to support minority Christian communities and their peaceful Muslim neighbours in Iraq and elsewhere.’
Rt Revd Dr Richard Cheetham (Acting Bishop of Southwark, Co-Chair, Christian Muslim Forum), Imam Dr Musharraf Hussain OBE (Co-Chair), Revd Dr Nicholas Wood, Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Bishop Donnett Thomas, Bishop Paul Hendricks, Shaykh Abbas Ismail
Article: From Cradle to Grave, Church bombing in Baghdad, Anthony O'Mahony
We acknowledge that the good values of religion can become lost, or hijacked, at times of war, suffering, inequality and oppression and that it is the role and responsibility of religious leaders, people of faith and all people of good will to emphasise what is best in all our different traditions and world-views in order to build peace. This is the task and commitment that we have taken on through our leading roles in the Christian Muslim Forum and in other areas of our professional and religious responsibilities.
We therefore:
1. Urge all people of faith and goodwill to see beyond hate, hostility, extremism and terrorism and not judge any religion, especially in this case Islam, by the violent and destructive acts of those who claim allegiance to a religion but deny it through their actions.
2. Draw attention to the resources Christianity and Islam have in their traditions, scriptures and wise, courageous and gentle leadership to bring peace rather than war.
3. Ask all who associate religions with hatred, bloodshed and war to look deeper into their all-pervading messages of peace with God, neighbour and the stranger.
4. Commend all genuine peace-building and inter-religious initiatives as antidotes to extremism, violence and terrorism and pray that the example of friendship and peaceful living together is seen as more ultimately more powerful than acts of hatred.
5. Ask the governments of Muslim countries to make every effort to protect their Christian communities where they are threatened by terrorists and extremists
6. Ask our own Government to recognise the legitimate case for asylum of Christians fleeing oppression, persecution, death threats and terrorism in Middle Eastern and other countries
The Christian Muslim Forum is currently planning an event, with Muslim and Christian partners, bringing together Christians and Muslims from the West, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries to explore joint action to support minority Christian communities and their peaceful Muslim neighbours in Iraq and elsewhere.’
Rt Revd Dr Richard Cheetham (Acting Bishop of Southwark, Co-Chair, Christian Muslim Forum), Imam Dr Musharraf Hussain OBE (Co-Chair), Revd Dr Nicholas Wood, Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Bishop Donnett Thomas, Bishop Paul Hendricks, Shaykh Abbas Ismail
Article: From Cradle to Grave, Church bombing in Baghdad, Anthony O'Mahony
Statement from 13 November event, 'In Solidarity with Iraqi Christians'
We the participants, Muslims, Christians and Jews, from different denominations, meet today in London, to express our solidarity with and support for our brothers and sisters of the Iraqi Christian community who have been subjected to terrorist attacks, in particular the congregation of ‘Our Lady of Salvation’ in Baghdad. We emphasise the shared cultural heritage of Muslims and Christians in Iraq, as well as other faiths and denominations, as they have lived together peacefully for generations not only in Iraq but also in other Arab countries and elsewhere. We stand shoulder to shoulder with Iraqi Christians to confront the terror and fear that this important part of Iraqi society now faces, emphasising that these terrorist attacks will not succeed in dividing us and destroying the great values that we share and out long history of peaceful coexistence.
We also condemn, in the strongest terms, all criminal acts committed by terrorists who seek to hijack the high values of Islam. We also condemn the terrorist attacks in Baghdad, Mousil, Erbil, Najaf, Kerbala and Basra, which have caused hundreds of casualties; as well as attacks in other countries including places of worship and shrines in Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Organisations participating:
1. Imam Al-Khoei Foundation
2. Syriac Orthodox Church
3. Chaldean Catholic Church
4. Assyrian Church of the East
5. Muslim Council of Britain
6. Ancient Church of the East
7. Assyrian General Conference
8. Greek Catholic Church of Lebanon
9. Supreme Shiite Islamic Council of London – London office
10. Awareness Foundation
11. Christian Muslim Forum
12. British Muslim Forum
13. Representative of Archbishop of Canterbury
14. International Council of Iraqi Experts
15. International Imam Hussain Council
16. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
17. World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League
18. UK Asian Christians
19. Ancient Church of the East
20. Assyrian Democratic Movement
21. Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq
22. British-Iranian Business Association
23. Antiochian Orthodox Church
24. Melkite and Maronite Churches
25. Board of Deputies of British Jews
2. Syriac Orthodox Church
3. Chaldean Catholic Church
4. Assyrian Church of the East
5. Muslim Council of Britain
6. Ancient Church of the East
7. Assyrian General Conference
8. Greek Catholic Church of Lebanon
9. Supreme Shiite Islamic Council of London – London office
10. Awareness Foundation
11. Christian Muslim Forum
12. British Muslim Forum
13. Representative of Archbishop of Canterbury
14. International Council of Iraqi Experts
15. International Imam Hussain Council
16. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
17. World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League
18. UK Asian Christians
19. Ancient Church of the East
20. Assyrian Democratic Movement
21. Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq
22. British-Iranian Business Association
23. Antiochian Orthodox Church
24. Melkite and Maronite Churches
25. Board of Deputies of British Jews
Click here to view the supporting statement from the Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony UK.
