"Religions’ message is love, justice, peace"

The Women's Council of the Council of Religions and Beliefs in North and East Syria issued a public statement today. It was read by Kinda Kanaan, a member of the Women's Office in the Council, in front of the Church of the Virgin Mary in Qamishlo, in the Jazira Canton.

The statement condemned the bombing that targeted the Mar Elias Church in the al-Duwaila neighborhood of Damascus, stressing that “this attack is a crime against all of humanity, a blatant violation of the sanctity of places of worship, and a desperate attempt to undermine the cohesive Syrian social fabric despite all the wounds.”

The statement emphasized that “the protection of places of worship, Islamic, Christian, and others, is a collective responsibility,” and called for “criminalizing all forms of hate speech, regardless of its source.”

It demanded “the prosecution of the perpetrators under local and international laws, ensuring justice, preserving the sanctity of places of worship, and guaranteeing transparency in investigations, with the public being informed of the accountability process in a way that reinforces trust and prevents the recurrence of such crimes.”

The statement held “the Syrian Transitional Government fully responsible for protecting civilians and places of worship.”

It reaffirmed that “the message of religions is love, justice, and peace,” and stressed that “solidarity with the victims is not a fleeting emotion, but a real commitment to confronting violence and working toward a future of security and dignity for all Syrians.”

The statement concluded with the phrase: “Christ is risen… He is risen indeed.”

A-H 

ANHA