Focolare Movement

Religious faiths, a treasure: Moslems for peace

Aug 26, 2014

Heartfelt message from the Moslem members of the Focolare Movement in Maghreb.

20140826-cWhile calls for peace are resounding all over the world, and as the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue requests all to take a stand, we received a letter from the Focolare’s Moslem members in Maghreb, supporting the declarations of the Focolare in Jordan, and released in the name of the entire Movement. «We, the Moslem members of the Focolare in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) wish to testify to our total and full support of the declarations of the Focolare in Jordan. Our religions are a treasure at humanity’s disposition, and exist to uphold the supreme values inherent to all human beings, but which are today being manipulated for other purposes, in the quest for power and supremacy, instead of justice and peace. Religions are ”innocent”. The victims belong to all religions, but, sad to say, so do the manipulators. The latest deceit of date, took place as we helplessly watched the events perpetrated by the ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Whether it be a Caliphate, Emirate or Sultanate, nothing would change its violence, savagery and inhumanness. The fact that it takes inspiration from Islam is but a usurpation, and even worse, falsifies the tenets of Islam, as is obvious in the fact that its first and foremost victims are Moslems. These players and their schemers have steered political considerations and geo-strategies to suit their own ends. We join our voices with those who, throughout the world, call out for peace and dialogue between all cultures and religions. We want to shout it out loud because silence is deadly. The fact that we are far from the places of the military operations does not impede us from deeply sharing all the suffering which is always foremost in our hearts. Just a few months ago, people of all religions gathered to declare together, mutual love for every brother, each in their own faith [Chiara and religions. Together towards unity of the human family  – Rome, 20 March 2014 – Ed.]. Our exchange of ideas has demonstrated that there are more things that unite rather than divide us. We wish to express our willingness to participate in any type of action towards a just solution of the conflicts underway, with a reminder that it is only in doing to others what we wish others to do to us, can we trace the path towards brotherhood. »

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