The National Council of Churches (NCCI) and North West India Council of Churches (NWICC) in the joint meeting held at Bible Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi on 19th August 2014 have recorded strong protest against, and deep concern over, continuing massacre and merciless persecution of minorities like Christians, Shias, Yazidis & Kurds.
Statement
The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), which is the united forum of about 30 Protestants and Orthodox Churches in India, representing 13 million Christians in the country) strongly condemns brutal persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq. NCCI considers the attacks and ongoing slaughter of innocent lives highly barbaric, inhuman and uncivilized.
Indian Christians are shocked and are in deep pain in knowing that infants, children, women, men and old people have been tortured, humiliated and mercilessly killed in the name of religion.
The NCCI is saddened to note that thousands of Christians have been forced to flee their homeland to save their lives. Many cities of Iraq and Syria are the oldest Christian centers since first century A.D. Christians had been living in harmonious relationships with their neighbours down through the centuries. Therefore the present carnage comes as rude shock.
NCCI asserts that such brutal killing of children, men & women is a threat to humanity. NCCI had earlier equally condemned the so called war in Gaza. In this meeting, the members of NCCI and NWICC expressed their deep concern and heartfelt sympathy for, and extended solidarity with, the people of Iraq, Syria and Gaza. No form of atrocity on humanity is acceptable to the civilized world.
India is a peace loving country, well known for her tolerance. NCCI requests the Government of India to take the world leadership to stop violence in Iraq and Gaza.
NCCI General Secretary Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad presided over the meeting which was graced by Bishop Subodh C Mondal (Methodist Church in India) and Rt. Rev. Collin C. Theodore (Church of North India). Mr. Samuel Jayakumar, NCCI Executive Secretary, Commission on Policy, Governance and Public Witness organized the meeting.
Fr. Biju P. Thomas of the Malanakara Orthodox Syrian church presented the resolution on Iraq which was endorsed by the gathering, which in addition to those mentioned above, included the following:
1. Rev. Nirmal David, Secretary - NWICC
2. Mrs. Sharada Manohar Rao, Vice Chairperson - NWICC
3. Major George Patrick, S.A.
4. Major Robin, S.A.
5. Rev. Samuel Ashish Jacob, CNI
6. Mr. Varinder Kumar, MCI
7. Rev. Sailakant Bagh, DELC
8. Rev. Vanlalmuanpuia Khiangte, IPC
- NCCI Communications
Statement
The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), which is the united forum of about 30 Protestants and Orthodox Churches in India, representing 13 million Christians in the country) strongly condemns brutal persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq. NCCI considers the attacks and ongoing slaughter of innocent lives highly barbaric, inhuman and uncivilized.
Indian Christians are shocked and are in deep pain in knowing that infants, children, women, men and old people have been tortured, humiliated and mercilessly killed in the name of religion.
The NCCI is saddened to note that thousands of Christians have been forced to flee their homeland to save their lives. Many cities of Iraq and Syria are the oldest Christian centers since first century A.D. Christians had been living in harmonious relationships with their neighbours down through the centuries. Therefore the present carnage comes as rude shock.
NCCI asserts that such brutal killing of children, men & women is a threat to humanity. NCCI had earlier equally condemned the so called war in Gaza. In this meeting, the members of NCCI and NWICC expressed their deep concern and heartfelt sympathy for, and extended solidarity with, the people of Iraq, Syria and Gaza. No form of atrocity on humanity is acceptable to the civilized world.
India is a peace loving country, well known for her tolerance. NCCI requests the Government of India to take the world leadership to stop violence in Iraq and Gaza.
NCCI General Secretary Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad presided over the meeting which was graced by Bishop Subodh C Mondal (Methodist Church in India) and Rt. Rev. Collin C. Theodore (Church of North India). Mr. Samuel Jayakumar, NCCI Executive Secretary, Commission on Policy, Governance and Public Witness organized the meeting.
Fr. Biju P. Thomas of the Malanakara Orthodox Syrian church presented the resolution on Iraq which was endorsed by the gathering, which in addition to those mentioned above, included the following:
1. Rev. Nirmal David, Secretary - NWICC
2. Mrs. Sharada Manohar Rao, Vice Chairperson - NWICC
3. Major George Patrick, S.A.
4. Major Robin, S.A.
5. Rev. Samuel Ashish Jacob, CNI
6. Mr. Varinder Kumar, MCI
7. Rev. Sailakant Bagh, DELC
8. Rev. Vanlalmuanpuia Khiangte, IPC
- NCCI Communications
