PRESS RELEASE                     22 November 2001

Ramadan is a time of prayer and fasting, reflection and compassion for Muslims all over the world. The Cambridge inter-Faith Group would like to express sadness, that the human suffering and loss of life in Afghanistan still continues. We are also concerned about the prejudice and hostility which some of our Muslim friends are now facing purely because of their religious beliefs.

We understand that true Islam does not approve of terrorism in any form. Islam respects all individual rights, and states clearly that none of them can be violated, even if doing so would be in the community's interest. Islam orders peace, and the Qur'an demands from each true Muslim that he or she be a symbol of peace and support the maintenance of basic human rights. If a ship is carrying nine criminals and one innocent person, Islam does not allow the ship to be sunk to punish the nine criminals, for doing so would violate the innocent person's rights.

We hope that the world of the new millennium will be a happier, more just, and more compassionate place. For this purpose, inter-faith dialogue should develop as a necessary process, and the followers of all religions should find ways of coming closer together and assist each other. Respecting the universal values of humanity's common heritage may help us to solve many serious problems in a peaceful manner.

The next monthly meeting of the Cambridge inter-Faith Group will be a discussion about the subject: 'Pilgrimage - Holy Places and Sacred Journeys' at Wesley Church / Upper Room (entrance King Street) on Tue 27 November at 8pm - free of charge, all are welcome.

This year's public AGM will be held on Tuesday 11 December 8pm, Wesley Church.

Revd Barbara Moss, Mahmut Uludag, Ralph Nimmann
for the Cambridge Inter-Faith Group steering committee