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Assyrian International News Agency AINA
Sept 1 2014
World 'Cannot Keep Silent About the Existence of the So-called ISIS,'
Patriarchs Declare
http://www.catholic.org
Posted 2014-09-01 22:37 GMT
Meeting at the Maronite Catholic patriarchate at Bkerke, north of
Beirut, Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs convened for a special summit
to address the crisis in Iraq and Syria. Later joined by the United
Nations' special coordinator in Lebanon and the ambassadors of the
five permanent member-countries of the U.N. Security Council, the
patriarchs called for worldwide efforts to eradicate terrorist groups.
All denounced attacks on Christians and called for greater
international involvement.
"The very existence of Christians is at stake in several Arab
countries - notably in Iraq, Syria and Egypt - where they have been
exposed to heinous crimes, forcing them to flee," the patriarchs said
in a statement.
They highlighted the indifference of both Islamic authorities and the
international community over attacks against Christians, who have been
in the region for 2,000 years.
"What is painful is the absence of a stance by Islamic authorities,
and the international community has not adopted a strict stance
either," the patriarchs said.
"We call for issuing a fatwa that forbids attacks against others," they said.
"The international community cannot keep silent about the existence of
the so-called ISIS," the patriarchs said, referring to the Islamic
State. "They should put an end to all extremist terrorist groups and
criminalize aggression against Christians and their properties."
The meeting was a follow-up to their first summit earlier this month,
in addition to a trip by several of them to Irbil, the capital of
Iraq's Kurdish region.
The prelates stressed the need for cutting off the sources of
terrorism. They called upon the nations of the world to deprive
extremist groups of resources by compelling countries financing them
to stop their support.
Solutions, they say must include "dealing with the reasons that
produced the miseries in the Middle East." Harmony must be restored
between the components of these countries, they said.
"The international community must act and eradicate" the Islamic
State, the patriarchs said. "This is required from the United Nations
and the U.N. Security Council.
"We must stop using extremists, terrorists and mercenaries and (stop)
supporting, financing and arming them," they said.
The summit, presided by Cardinal Bechara Rai, Maronite patriarch, and
was attended by: Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II;
Armenian Catholic Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni; Melkite
Catholic Patriarch Gregoire III Laham; Syriac Catholic Patriarch
Ignace Joseph III Younan; Catholicos Aram of Cilicia, patriarch of the
Armenian Apostolic Church; Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Sako; a
representative of the Greek Orthodox Church; and the head of the
Evangelical Council, Rev. Salim Sahyouni.
http://www.aina.org/news/20140901183754.htm
Sept 1 2014
World 'Cannot Keep Silent About the Existence of the So-called ISIS,'
Patriarchs Declare
http://www.catholic.org
Posted 2014-09-01 22:37 GMT
Meeting at the Maronite Catholic patriarchate at Bkerke, north of
Beirut, Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs convened for a special summit
to address the crisis in Iraq and Syria. Later joined by the United
Nations' special coordinator in Lebanon and the ambassadors of the
five permanent member-countries of the U.N. Security Council, the
patriarchs called for worldwide efforts to eradicate terrorist groups.
All denounced attacks on Christians and called for greater
international involvement.
"The very existence of Christians is at stake in several Arab
countries - notably in Iraq, Syria and Egypt - where they have been
exposed to heinous crimes, forcing them to flee," the patriarchs said
in a statement.
They highlighted the indifference of both Islamic authorities and the
international community over attacks against Christians, who have been
in the region for 2,000 years.
"What is painful is the absence of a stance by Islamic authorities,
and the international community has not adopted a strict stance
either," the patriarchs said.
"We call for issuing a fatwa that forbids attacks against others," they said.
"The international community cannot keep silent about the existence of
the so-called ISIS," the patriarchs said, referring to the Islamic
State. "They should put an end to all extremist terrorist groups and
criminalize aggression against Christians and their properties."
The meeting was a follow-up to their first summit earlier this month,
in addition to a trip by several of them to Irbil, the capital of
Iraq's Kurdish region.
The prelates stressed the need for cutting off the sources of
terrorism. They called upon the nations of the world to deprive
extremist groups of resources by compelling countries financing them
to stop their support.
Solutions, they say must include "dealing with the reasons that
produced the miseries in the Middle East." Harmony must be restored
between the components of these countries, they said.
"The international community must act and eradicate" the Islamic
State, the patriarchs said. "This is required from the United Nations
and the U.N. Security Council.
"We must stop using extremists, terrorists and mercenaries and (stop)
supporting, financing and arming them," they said.
The summit, presided by Cardinal Bechara Rai, Maronite patriarch, and
was attended by: Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II;
Armenian Catholic Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni; Melkite
Catholic Patriarch Gregoire III Laham; Syriac Catholic Patriarch
Ignace Joseph III Younan; Catholicos Aram of Cilicia, patriarch of the
Armenian Apostolic Church; Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Sako; a
representative of the Greek Orthodox Church; and the head of the
Evangelical Council, Rev. Salim Sahyouni.
http://www.aina.org/news/20140901183754.htm