Statement of the Secretary General on the Arson Attack of the Rida Mosque and the Killing of Imam Abdallah Dadou
14 March 2012
The arson attack on the Rida mosque in Brussels on Monday 12 March 2012 has killed Imam Abdallah Dadou. The Imam was also a husband and the father of four children. For all of the members of Religions for Peace, the attack on this mosque which resulted in his death was despicable. Religions for Peace rejects this arson attack as an illegal, violent, ugly and morally offensive act. We call upon the relevant authorities to advance justice in accordance with the law.
Events such as these deeply wound our hearts. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the wife and family of Imam Abdallah Dadou, to the members of the Rida mosque and to the entire Islamic community in Belgium. Individual believers in Religions for Peace are offering prayers in accord with their own traditions.
This wrongful and deeply sad event underlines again the irreplaceable importance of strengthening further principled multi-religious solidarity. Religions for Peace believes that whenever persons in any religious tradition are victims of hate crimes all sincere religious believers are called to stand in solidarity with them. Diverse religious communities have different beliefs, and these differences are of vital importance to them and must be respected. At the same time, it is heartening to see more and more courageous people of different faiths standing together in solidarity to reject hatred and to protect the inviolable dignity of the other. As we deplore this sad event, let us all re-double our commitment to build multi-religious solidarity for peace.
Yours in Partnership,
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Dr. William F. Vendley |
RELIGIONS FOR PEACE—the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition—advances common action among the world’s religious communities for peace. Religions for Peace works to transform violent conflict, advance human development, promote just and harmonious societies, and protect the earth. The global Religions for Peace network comprises a World Council of senior religious leaders from all regions of the world; six regional inter-religious bodies and more than eighty national ones; and the Global Women of Faith Network and Global Interfaith Youth Network.
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