The KAICIID Board of Directors, consisting of representatives of five religions - Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism - condemn the shooting of innocent worshippers in a mosque in Quebec City, Canada on 29 January 2017.

“We are deeply grieved by the shocking and repugnant killing of innocent worshippers in prayer at a mosque in Quebec City, Canada. We express our deepest condolences to the victims, their families and friends and pray for the full and swift recovery of the injured.

We call upon all peoples of good will to stand up for the rights of their sisters and brothers. An act of such brutality and disrespect for others and their beliefs cannot, and must not, prevent believers from practicing their religions and beliefs in peace.

In caring for the rights and freedoms of others, we preserve our humanity and our cultures as sources of comfort, charity, refuge and respect, without which our cultures are acutely threatened. Any violence cynically committed in the name of religion can never be justified and we reject these criminal acts utterly.”

About the Board of Directors

KAICIID is an intergovernmental organisation mandated to promote dialogue among different religious and cultural groups to promote justice, peace and reconciliation and to counteract the abuse of religion to justify violence. The Centre is governed by a multi-religious Board of Directors, consisting of representatives of five religions - Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.

They are, in alphabetical order: Swami Agnivesh, Dr. Hamad Al-Majed, His Excellency Bishop Miguel Ayuso, His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel, Dr. Sayyed Ataollah Mohajerani, Reverend Kosho Niwano, Reverend Mark Poulson, Chief Rabbi David Rosen, Dr. Mohammad Sammak.