British faith leaders issue statement denouncing terrorism

Published: 2005-07-11

LONDON (CNS) -- Britain's Islamic leaders have joined Christians and Jews in denouncing terrorism as "evil." Sheik Zaki Badawi, head of the Council of Mosques and Imams, said the July 7 bomb attacks in the capital, which left at least 52 people dead and 700 injured, were "totally contrary to Islam." He said that terrorism "is an evil that cannot be justified and that we utterly condemn and reject." Badawi read from a joint statement at a July 10 press conference in London's Lambeth Palace, headquarters of the Anglican Church. Also in attendance were Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor of Westminster, England; Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, England; the Rev. David Coffey, a Baptist minister and moderator of the Free Churches group; and Sir Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. The religious leaders took turns reading a part of the statement.

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