Religions for Peace is filled with sorrow for the innocent people killed in Belgium. We stand in solidarity with Religions for Peace Belgium, which, we hope, will lead the path to peace and harmony. International Secretary William F. Vendley gives a message on occasion of the Brussels shootings.
24 March 2016
Dear Friend:
The horrendous attacks in Belgium on innocent civilians at Zaventem airport and the Maelbeek metro were cowardly and utterly reprehensible.
Once again, it saddens us unspeakably whenever religion is twisted and distorted to justify violence and hatred, to perpetrate an act that—by taking innocent lives—is in fact anathema to true faith.
Leaving at least 31 dead and over 260 wounded, such calculated terrorism in which innocent men, women and children were targets, is totally unjustifiable, in any conceivable circumstance.
Sincere religious believers in Religions for Peace unconditionally condemn the attack and offer our heartfelt sympathies to the families, peoples of Belgium and all those affected by this cruel and senseless attack.
In these saddest of times and in the wake of this horrible event, Belgium’s representative multi-religious body, Religions for Peace Belgium, can serve as an ever more useful instrument in building bridges of peace.
We proceed with confidence that, in time, the strong presence of religious leaders working together on the basis of shared moral conviction will help to foster multi—religious dialogue, solidarity, and action—focused cooperation leading to peace, both in Belgium and beyond.
Yours in solidarity,
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Dr. William F. Vendley |
Religions for Peace is the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace by working to advance multi-religious consensus on positive aspects of peace as well as concrete actions to stop war, help eliminate extreme poverty 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 ninety national ones; and the Global Women of Faith Network and Global Interfaith Youth Network.
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