Archbishop David Moxon has expressed his “huge concern” at the New Year’s Eve attack on Coptic Christians in Alexandria, in Egypt.

Archbishop David, who had been in Alexandria last February for a meeting of the Primates, or leaders of the world’s Anglican provinces, said the bombing was calculated to increase mistrust and sow hatred between the two largest religious communities in Egypt.

Archbishop David, who was speaking on behalf of the three leaders of the Anglican church in these islands, has commended to the church and the wider community a statement about the Alexandria attack by the New York-based Religions for Peacegroup.

That statement follows: 

The killing and wounding of Coptic Christians, who were worshipping in their church in Alexandria, Egypt, on New Year’s Eve was grievously wrong. 

The unconscionable taking of innocent lives as a result of this barbarous attack is totally reprehensible.  The members of Religions for Peace—the world’s largest multi-religious coalition solely dedicated to advancing principled cooperation for peace—are united in offering heartfelt condolences and loving solidarity to the affected families and communities. 

The fact that the violence against the Coptic Christians was designed to persecute them as a religious group makes it especially despicable.  The attack also appeared to be designed to create fear and polarization between the two largest religious communities in Egypt and more broadly in the Middle East. 

Islamic leaders around the world—including those who help to lead Religions for Peace—have led the call to firmly reject this heinous act.  They have been joined by the leaders of the world’s other great faiths, including Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Shintos, Taoists, Zoroastrians, Christians, Jews, Bahá’ís, Indigenous religions, and others.   

Respectful of their differing beliefs, committed religious followers of all traditions are growing evermore united in the conviction that religion must never be used as an excuse for violence.  Anywhere a religious minority is threatened, the believers of the world’s diverse religions must shoulder the responsibility to protect and defend them. 

This responsibility holds everywhere, regardless of which religious community is in a position of majority.  It is not a matter of being united in the same religious beliefs, as diverse religious traditions are genuinely different.  Rather, it is the issue of being morally united regarding the need to honor and protect the inviolable dignity of every person.  This inviolable human dignity includes in a most special sense the freedom to act on the basis of conscience with regard to religious belief. 

The recent persecution of the Coptic Christians in Egypt underscores the critical roles that governments must play to ensure the safety and protection of religious minorities.  Religions for Peace calls on all governments around the world—including in this case the Egyptian government—to redouble their efforts to ensure the full rights and protections of religious minorities. 

In the final analysis, more principled multi-religious dialogue, solidarity and concrete cooperation is the necessary response in the present situation.   It is heartening that religious leaders in Egypt have been united in their condemnations of the recent attack.  It is also heartening that the ancient city Alexandria is the site of pioneering efforts to advance multi-religious cooperation.  Beginning in July 2008, in partnership with the Library of Alexandria, Religions for Peace began to establish the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) Religions for Peace Council as an instrument for multi-religious cooperation throughout the region. 

The clear voices of religious leaders working together on the basis of shared moral convictions can help lead the historic religious communities in the Middle East into religiously rooted moral solidarity for the common good.  There is no more powerful antidote to terrorism than multi-religious cooperation, and no more powerful imperative to genuine peace with justice and mercy. 

Yours in partnership,

Dr. William F. Vendle
Secretary General

(The Very Reverend) Leonid Kishkovsky
Moderator

RELIGIONS FOR PEACE—which claims to be 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 Peacenetwork comprises a World Council of senior religious leaders from all regions of the world; six regional inter-religious bodies and more than seventy national ones; and the Global Women of Faith Network and Global Youth Network.