The KAICIID Board of Directors, consisting of representatives of five religions - Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism - issued today the following statement following the attack on a bus carrying Coptic Christians to a Monastery in Egypt on 26 May 2017:

“We utterly condemn the massacre that took place in Egypt on 26 May 2017, in which dozens of Coptic Christians, including children, were murdered and injured by gunmen who opened fire on a bus carrying these believers to the Monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor.

We express our condolences to the victims’ families and all those who were affected by this malicious crime.

This attack, following recent attacks on Coptic Christians in Alexandria and Tanta, further strengthens our resolve to promote dialogue among followers of all religions, since all religions reject violence and promote peace.

We call upon people of goodwill continue building bridges between communities to overcome distrust and alienation. We must never be discouraged in upholding the principle of common citizenship for all peoples and in supporting pluralism in our societies.”

About the KAICIID Board of Directors

The International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) is an intergovernmental organization mandated to promote dialogue among different religious and cultural groups to promote justice, peace and reconciliation and to counteract the abuse of religion to justify violence. The Centre is governed by a multi-religious Board of Directors, consisting of representatives of five religions - Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.

The Board Members are: Dr. Hamad Al-Majed, Dr. Kezevino Aram, His Excellency Bishop Miguel Ayuso, His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel, Dr. Sayyed Ataollah Mohajerani, Reverend Kosho Niwano, Reverend Mark Poulson, Chief Rabbi David Rosen and Dr. Mohammad Sammak.