Standing with the Kabul Community & Our Sikh Family Around the World

Image Source: jasleen_kaur
The Parliament of the World’s Religions unequivocally condemns the monstrous terrorist attack that was carried out at Gurdwara Har Rai Sahib in Shor Bazaar Kabul, Afghanistan against the Sikh community and other devotees during their morning prayer. This abhorrent attack which resulted in the 25 deaths and 8 community members wounded, is a heinous escalation of violence against religious minorities in Afghanistan. 
The Parliament remains firmly committed to combating hate and violence against communities of faith and worship through the cultivation of interfaith engagement and understanding. Our deepest condolences to the victims and their families of this terrorist attack. We send our heartfelt prayers to the Kabul community, our Sikh family in Afghanistan and around the world. 
This continuous increase of violent attacks on places of worship and sacred spaces is a grave concern for all who aspire for peace. The Parliament of the World’s Religions remains committed to a culture of non-violence and respect for life, as agreed upon on our signature document Towards A Global Ethic.
“All people have a right to life, safety, and the free development of  personality insofar as they do not injure the rights of others. No one has the right physically or psychically to torture, injure, much less kill, any other human being. And no people, no state, no race, no religion has the right to hate, to discriminate against, to ‘cleanse,’ to exile, much less to liquidate a ‘foreign’ minority which is different in behaviour or holds different beliefs.”
– Towards A Global Ethic: A Declaration of the Parliament of the World’s Religions

We invite friends and colleagues in the interfaith movement to commit to love and understanding as the antidote for the growing hate and violence affecting our communities around the world.
We stand firmly with the Kabul community and communities affected by this and other tragedies. We also invite the global interfaith movement and individuals of faith and conscience to remain committed in the fight against violent extremism facing our world.
We’ve gathered resources from colleagues around the world to highlight the ways you can reach out and support the victims around the world:• Donate to the Kabul Sikh Gurdwara Shooting : Emergency Appeal Fund on LaunchGood• Reach out to your local Sikh Community & visit your local Gurdwara• Donate to Organizations like United Sikhs• Volunteer with Organizations like Global Sikh Council
Statements from Colleagues Around the World:• Statement attributable to Spokesman for UN Secretary General on Afghanistan• Global Sikh Council (GSC) Requests International Action to Help Sikhs in Afghanistan• WSO Canada Calls For Urgent Assistance to Afghan Sikhs After Kabul Attack

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