Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières
Canada: The Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) strongly condemns the attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka.
The Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) strongly condemns the attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka. These terror attacks on innocent worshippers during the holiest of Christian holidays are cowardly and senseless acts by those motivated by irrational hatred. Their perpetrators must be brought to justice and all forms of terror against people of all faiths must be stopped and condemned unequivocally.
We extend our condolences to the people of Sri Lanka and to the families and loved ones of those who were killed and injured in the attacks and pray for peace and healing.
Sincerely,
The Canadian Council of Muslim Women
• Monday 22 April 2019, Source: CCMW email:
http://www.siawi.org/spip.php?article19479
South Asia: SAAPE condemns the Heinous Acts of Extremist in Sri Lanka
April 22, 2019
The South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), a regional civil society network encompassing all eight countries of South Asia, condemns the act of serial blasts in Sri Lankan cities targeted to the general people attending Church Pray and staying in hotels by extremists on 21 April 2019. As reported by the news media, the acts of serial blasts have claimed lives of 290 innocent people and has wounded more than 500. We share our heartfelt condolences, prayers and strength to the families, friends and people who are grappling with this uncalled-for tragedy.
The fear and threat of terrorism backed up by fundamentalist ideas and groups spoil the democratic order, violates peoples’ right to peace and security and only lead to further hate and aggression. Such an act never serves the true spirit of any religion and are always an attempt to divide an integrated and multi-cultural nation and society. Such an act leads to the risk of increased militarisation and curtailing of democratic space. SAAPE collectively stands against such insanity and rejects such violent acts and invasion.
In this context of serial blast incidence in cities of Sri Lanka, SAAPE members and activists support people of Sri Lanka to stand together, remained united and collectively reject any extremism and fundamentalism. We urge the government of Sri Lanka to take necessary measures for protecting the lives of people, to counter fear among people, have an independent higher-level investigation of this crime and strengthen the co-existence of the multicultural populated society of Sri Lanka along with ensuring justice for victims, their family and community.
SAAPE believes that such fundamentalism and extremism can be countered effectively with empowered civil societies and peoples’ active engagement to promote peace and harmony. We believe the solidarity among the peoples’ movement across the border at the regional and international level can challenge and downsize the influence of extremists and all kinds of fundamentalist.
The unified actions of government to counter extremism and fundamentalism is extremely important. We further demand South Asian governments to take immediate joint actions to address the growing rise of religious fundamentalism in the region.
SAAPE Secretariat, Kathmandu, Nepal
• http://sacw.net/article14080.html
India: Condolence meeting in Bombay
A gathering will be held to offer our heartfelt Condolences and Prayers to the Victims of the horrifying Sri Lanka Easter Day Church Terror Attacks.
4.00pm, on Wednesday the 24th of April, CSMT, outside Subway No. 1, Opp. Cannon Pavbhaji Stall, Mumbai.
Organising Committee
Feroze Mithiborwala (Bharat Bachao Andolan), Salim Alware (Mahatma Gandhi Vichar Manch), Irfan Engineer (All India Secular Forum), Javed Anand (Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy), Jatin Desai (PIPFPD), Ravi Bhilane (Lokanche Dost), Varsha Vidya Vilas (Sadbhavna Sangh), M A Khalid (Milli Council), Jyoti Badekar (Vidyarthi Bharti), Prof. Pramila Kunda (Satyashodhak Research Centre), Santosh Gawli (Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch), Amol Madame (Prajasattak Bharat), Dhananjay Shinde, Nuruddin Naik, Guddi (Yusuf Meherally Centre), Afroz Malik (Jai Ho Foundation), Shadab Siddiqui (Being Woman), Smita Salunke (Vaghini), Tahera Syed (Mamta Foundation), Hamida Latif, Yashodhan Paranjpe, Abdul Qadir, Aniket Navalkar, Afaque Azad.
• http://sacw.net/article14080.html
Outrage at Islamist terrorist attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka
We are outraged at the Islamist attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka. Our hearts go out to the survivors and victims – 359 killed, including at least 45 children, and more than 500 wounded. We mourn them with the people of Sri Lanka and the world.
The terrorists claim to have killed innocent Christians and others in order to “avenge” innocent Muslims killed in Christchurch; the Christchurch terrorist also feigned to kill innocent Muslim worshippers as an act of “vengeance”. What should by now be very clear to everyone is that these terrorist attacks have nothing to do with addressing grievances – real or imagined – and everything to do with using terror, hate, supremacy and violence as a tool to impose the ideology and dominance of the religious-Right.
Whether Islamist or white nationalist, whether in Sri Lanka or Christchurch, these far-Right movements have no respect for human life and rights: Christian, Muslim, ex-Muslim, believer or non, white, black or brown, young or old; no amount of murder or mayhem is too heinous for their hateful cause. Always anti- those deemed “other”; always relying on hate, religion, violence, misogyny, homophobia, tribalism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and terrorism to sow fear and division.
For too long and still far too many continue to excuse one side over the other depending on where they stand. Some will defend the Islamists, others will defend the Christian-Right, both sides saying there are “legitimate grievances” even if they claim to abhor terrorism. Many will even go so far as to blame the victims, especially in the case of apostates and blasphemers like Charlie Hebdo or the Bangladeshi bloggers. What these apologists fail to see is that there is no legitimisation for murder.
Those killed in Sri Lanka could be any of us. We could be next. We must all take an unequivocal stand against all forms of fascism and hate. We must not allow the conflation of the religious-Right with ordinary believers, victim blaming, and the dehumanisation of the “other” to legitimate a politics of terror and hate.
Sooner than later, we must recognise that we are all in this together against the far-Right and in defence of our common humanity. Our lives and our rights are interlinked irrespective of our backgrounds and beliefs.
It is a matter of urgency that governments stop appeasing theocracies and the religious-Right, including via faith schools and child indoctrination, religious courts and faith-based policies. This only strengthens divisions and the religious-Right.
Defending secularism, citizenship and universal rights is the only way forward.
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#ChristchurchMosqueAttack #SriLankaAttack
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