Statement on the tragedy in Norway

As leaders and people of faith, in the Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities, we offer our condolences to the people of Norway, whose daughters and sons have been murdered so shockingly. Our prayers and thoughts go out to those who were injured, and to the families and friends of the injured and those who have been killed. We support initiatives to remember those who were killed and the legal process against their killer.

We take this opportunity to reiterate that no religion, whatever the practices of those who claim to follow a religion, preaches violence or encourages attacks on the innocent. Terrorism is terrorism and violence is violence, neither of these are religious or religiously-motivated. We thoroughly repudiate any suggestion that in his attacks Anders Breivik was inspired by Christianity; Christianity and all religions teach respect for human life.

We also call on all Europeans to:
• work for peace through dialogue and better understanding
• reject violence against fellow-Europeans, whatever their religion, belief, or ethnicity
• work towards harmonious living alongside each other, whatever our religious or political stance
• avoid scapegoating or reinforcing negativity towards minority communities, especially in the mass media

We remain committed to dismantling myths and prejudices, sharing similarities and differences and modelling genuine good relations.

Signed:

Sayyed Yousif al-Khoei, Director, Al-Khoei Foundation
Anjum Anwar, President, Christian Muslim Forum
Maulana Ahmed Nisar Beig, Chairman, British Muslim Forum
Julian Bond, Director, Christian Muslim Forum
Alex Goldberg, Chair, Faith Forum for London
Dr. Husein Jiwa, President, The Council of European Jamaats
Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Co-Chair, Christian Muslim Forum
Mehri Niknam MBE, Executive Director, Joseph Interfaith Foundation
Maulana Shahid Raza, Chairman, Mosques & Imams National Advisory Board
Stephen Shashoua, Director, Three Faiths Forum
Sir Sigmund Sternberg, Co-Founder, Three Faiths Forum
Rev Dr Marcus Braybrooke, Co-Founder, Three Faiths Forum
Bishop Donnett Thomas, President, Christian Muslim Forum
Vivian Wineman, President, The Board of Deputies of British Jews
Nicholas Wood, President, Christian Muslim Forum