The KAICIID Board of Directors, consisting of representatives of five religions - Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism - unanimously express their deepest condolences to the victims and their families of the violent attacks around the world over the past few days in Kabul, Afghanistan; Saint Etienne Du Rouvray, France; and Wuerzburg and Ansbach, Germany, among others. The Board issued today the following statement:

“We are saddened and deeply concerned by the increasingly vicious series of terrorist attacks around the world in the past few days and weeks, and the rising numbers of innocent people who have lost their lives, or members of their families, or their friends, to this senseless violence. The attackers directed their violent hatred against people who are different from those who torment them. The brutal killing in Normandy of a priest, a religious leader who had dedicated his life to his community and to the service of God, leading worshippers in prayer, is yet another demonstration that those who commit violence in the name of religion violate the tenets of any religion.

When these horrors occur again and again, how can we not give into despair, cynicism and fear of our neighbours? But allowing fear and animosity towards others to cloud our minds endangers our societies’ ability to heal and to grow closer together. If we cannot reconcile our differences through dialogue none of us can hope to live in peace in future. In times when barbaric hatred threatens to pull us apart, we must remember the values that unite all humankind: compassion, mercy and kindness. To give in to prejudice, anger and hatred is to turn our backs on peace and dialogue, which are our best defense against violent extremism.”