Statement of the participants in Interreligious Peace Forum

S T A T E M E N T
of the participants in Interreligious Peace Forum

We, participants in the Interreligious Peace Forum — spiritual leaders of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism — are profoundly disturbed by the manifestations of extremism and terrorism which some often try to justify by religious rhetoric.

In the expanse of Eurasia, adherents of the traditional religious have lived in peace and cooperation for centuries. However the end of the 20th century has been marked by events that evoke sharp pain in the hearts of believers, regardless of their particular faith. The history of our countries in the outgoing decade has been marked by many bloody interethnic and civil conflicts, unprecedented intensification of ethnic, political and social enmity, xenophobia and alienation. We are especially alarmed by attempts to misuse the feelings of believers for achieving political and even criminal ends and intensifying disputes and conflicts. It is impossible, indeed, to overcome injustice by anarchy and to quench internecine war by still greater hostility.

Without doubt believers have the right to build their own lives in accordance with their own faith. The government, society and the mass media should respect the feelings and way of life of adherents of the traditional religions, both the majority of the population and the minorities. But nobody should be permitted to take the lives of other people or to infringe upon their rights and liberties using words of faith as a cover. We testify with conviction: no traditional religion teaches this. On the contrary, sinful are action that we have witnessed in the recent past, such as kidnapping and banishment of people, dispossession of their homes and property and attempts to convert people to another faith by force.

People in the North Caucasus and the Central Asian regions have seen the appearance of a real danger that choices alien to them will be imposed on them. Immediately across the southern borders of the Commonwealth of Independent States, law and order have been weakened and drug trafficking has flourished along with the uncontrolled proliferation of weapons and other forms of criminality. This is an indisputable and tragic fact of international life, recognized by the world community and reflected in decisions of the United Nations.

Unfortunately, these developments have spread to the territory of the CIS countries, not without evil intent. Emissaries of militant movements from various states have penetrated here, using the symbols of Islam for their own self-interests and trying to change radically the historical road of the CIS nations and their traditional way of life. All of this has been accompanied by the creation of illegal armed formations, crude interference from abroad in the affairs of sovereign states and the creation of new centers of tension. All this has often led to the mass destruction of innocent people. The territory being hurt by this disease is expanding relentlessly. Terrorism has taken on an international character and thus its centers are threatening the stability of the whole world.

We honestly confess that the historical religious traditions have sometimes justified the use of force for instituting and establishing faith. However today, in the situation of fragility in peaceful human coexistence, we call upon believers to renew the peacemaking potential of religious ideals and values. May wise moderation, peacemaking tolerance and fraternal love help us to step back from this dangerous line. We declare that terrorism and unjust force, by whatever means they may be justified, should be unconditionally and consistently eradicated. The world community should give a resolute rebuff to these criminal manifestations. Religious extremism must be counteracted by education, dialogue and support for the creative efforts of believers.

At the end of the 20th century it depends to a great extent on the efforts of believers whether the new millennium will be free from injustice and deprivation, hatred and hostility, moral decline and fratricidal conflicts. Let us ardently pray and tirelessly work for the sake of asserting peace and harmony in our countries.

D. B. Ayushev, Bandito Khambo Lama, Chairman of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha in Russia;

Mufti R. Gainutdin, Chairman of the Moslem Board in European Russia, Chairman of the Council of Muftis in Russia;

Kirill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church;

Rev. I. Kovalevsky, Chancellor of the Apostolic Administration for the Latin Rite Catholics in Northern European Russia;

Senoir Pastor P. Konovalchik, Chairman of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists;

P. B. Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia;

V. S. Pudov, Head of the Representation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia in Moscow;

T. Tajuddin, Chairman (Supreme Mufti Sheik-ul-Islam) of the Central Moslem Board in Russia;

A. S. Shaevich, Chairman of the Congress of Jewish Religious Organizations and Associations in Russia.

11 November 2000