Following the violent attacks targeting the churches in Iraq end of January, a statement dated January 31st 2006 was issued by the Heads of Churches in Iraq, condemning the renewed violence on the Baghdad and Kirkuk churches, in reaction to the Danish media publications on the prophet Mohammad. Qualifying the publications as unethical and damaging, the churches of Iraq believe them to be the work of atheists and not Christians. Similar publications have also, in the past, desecrated Christ as well as the Virgin Mary. Such acts are an attack on all monotheistic religions.
Though the churches believe and support freedom of expression, this freedom should not overstep on peoples¹ values, faiths and beliefs. Churches should unite and struggle, against such harmful acts, and encourage and request an international law for their prevention. The Statement in Arabic is posted on the MECC website at www.mec-churches.org <http://www.mec-churches.org/
Middle East Council of Churches Office of International Ecumenical Relations P.O. Box 5376, Beirut, Lebanon
Guirgis Ibrahim Saleh, General Secretary
mecc@cyberia.net.lb or guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
+961-1-353-938 http://www.mec-churches.org/