The World YWCA in solidarity with persecuted Christian people
The World YWCA joins her sisters in the Middle East region to condemn the bomb attack perpetrated against the Coptic Christian people on New Year’s Eve at Saints Church in Alexandria, Egypt and expresses her sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the people of Egypt.
The violence against Christian people has recently taken a tragic turn with the attacks in Alexandria but also in Baghdad in late 2010. These attacks against churches in Baghdad, where 58 people died, and Alexandria, where 28 deaths were recorded, place the Near and Middle East under the spotlight and show a daily reality of discrimination against Christians in the region. But these events should also remind us that persecution against Christians happens in other places in the world like in Asia and Africa (India, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan among other) where Christians are victims of bullying, discrimination and daily violence.
The Middle East is home to the three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam and they all preach peace and human dignity. Examples of acceptance, hospitality and cooperation abound. From the early twentieth century, the YWCA has provided women of different Christian traditions a safe space to work together in unity to bring social change. Today, YWCA members come from all faith traditions, religions and beliefs. The YWCA presence in the Middle East dates back to 1893 when YWCA work began in Palestine. Since then, the YWCAs in the region – Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Palestine - have exemplified tolerance and cooperation while delivering services and programmes in their predominately Muslim communities. YWCAs in the Middle East demonstrate every day the value of their work as Christian organisations in a region where Christians are the minority and how, through a common vision and with compassion, women from different faiths can work together. Their commitment should bring us hope for a future where peace can flourish.
The World YWCA reaffirms her solidarity with the people affected by the attacks perpetrated over these last days and calls for dialogue between Christians and people of other faiths. This is a time for unity and for mobilisation of concerted action in reaffirming mutual respect among peoples of different cultural and religious traditions.
Link:
