An appeal for halting threats to the Christian community in Iraq: it was launched by about forty Muslim theologians and scholars taking part in the International Conference called by Archbishop Rowan Williams and Grand Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa from 12th to 15th October, one year after the publication of the letter "A Common Word". "We are perfectly aware it is written in the final press release made known yesterday of the terrible sufferings endured by the Iraqi population of any religion in the last few years, and we wish to express them our solidarity. We cannot find any justifications within either Christianity or Islam for those who commit violence in some areas of Iraq. Therefore, we invite religious and political leaders to do anything possible to promote the return of all the people and all the communities, including the old Christian communities. And we invite them to guarantee stability, so that all citizens may prosper. We unmistakably declare that in Iraq, and in the rest of the world, no person or community should be persecuted or threatened owing to its religious faith". "We pray for Iraq to be able to find peace, and for our two religions to be able to work together to overcome divisions within society, to demonstrate faithfulness to the double commandment of loving God and the neighbour".
