UN chief urges faith leaders to speak up against injustice and brutality

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Thursday 23 Apr 2015 - 12:23 Makkah mean time-4-7-1436 Image from UN News Center site New York (IINA) – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged faith leaders to stand up for the collective good and amplify their voices in support of moderation and mutual understanding, warning that he fears an “empathy gap” is causing people to turn their eyes from injustice and numbing them to atrocities. “At a time when we are seeing so much division and hatred, I wanted to bring people together under the banner of the UN to explore how best to respond,” Ban said on the second day of a gathering at the General Assembly of leaders representing diverse faiths, including Islam, Judaism, Christianity, as well as ministers, academics, and spiritual teachers. The Secretary General said he was deeply concerned as today communities rushed to point out an affront against themselves, but ignored or dismissed the legitimate grievances of others. “Religion does not cause violence, people do,” he continued. “Today we turn to what you as men and women can and must do in this vital endeavor,” he told the High-Level Assembly meeting on Promoting Tolerance and Reconciliation, Fostering Peaceful, Inclusive Societies and Countering Violent Extremism, which opened Tuesday and concluded Wednesday. Ban expressed the need to promote dialogue as an antidote to intolerance, urging faith leaders to raise their voices to counter the narrative of extremists, and to use their influence to stand up for moderation and mutual understanding. He also stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of extremism, pointing out that abuses and indignities make individuals ripe for recruitment for sectarian and violent groups. The UN chief called on leaders to ensure another way, a better way, which includes equality, and promoting opportunity and upholding human rights. He also announced that later this year, he would present a UN Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism. AB/IINA