Open letter to people of faith in Egypt and the Middle East

		Against the background of recent tragic events in Egypt, the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) is calling on mass and community media in the country and the Middle East Region generally to provide responsible and balanced news coverage of the situation and to avoid exacerbating tensions that could lead to further violence. WACC believes that mutual understanding and reconciliation are possible if such conflicts are communicated from a perspective of religious tolerance and with the aim of seeking a peaceful resolution.
Photo source: WCC

Meanwhile WACC strongly endorses a recent statement by the World Council of Churches (WCC) condemning the vicious attack which took place in the Saints Church in Alexandria, Egypt, when a bomb was detonated during the celebration of the New Year midnight mass.

WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, stated that the outrage was a reminder of other tragedies in the region, including an attack on Coptic worshippers in Nag Hammadi, Egypt on 7 January 2010 and the lethal assault on the Church of Our Lady of Salvation (Sayidat al-Nejat) in Baghdad, Iraq, on 31 October 2010.

Tveit recalled that the Baghdad attack took place at the time of significant Muslim-Christian dialogue in Geneva and that the Muslim and Christian leaders who were present issued a joint denunciation of the act.

WACC adds its voice to the WCC’s appeals to President Mubarak of Egypt, to religious leaders and to governments throughout the region, to act swiftly and boldly to safeguard the religious freedom of worshippers of all faiths, to continue to ensure their security in the face of violence, and to guarantee justice for all people.

WACC expresses its solidarity with all Christians and Christian communicators in Egypt who are working in support of human rights and for peace and justice.

 

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