Iraqi religious authorities
commit to justice for terrorism victims
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| Iraqi counter-terrorism soldier (AFP) |
In an interfaith document, religious authorities unite to
work towards reconciliation and collaboration in Iraq.
By Benedict Mayaki, SJ
Religious leaders from several communities across Iraq have
released a joint statement to collectively highlight their commitment towards
peace, and show solidarity to the victims of crimes committed by the so-called
Islamic State.
The interfaith document is signed by representatives of the
United Nations (UN) and several religious authorities, including Cardinal Louis
Raphaël Sako, the archbishop of Baghdad. It is the first instance of a joint
endorsement of the need for justice and the rights of victims by religious
leaders in the country.
In the statement, the religious leaders condemn the violence
of the IS, referring to it as “contrary to the core principles of our religious
faiths as well as the fundamental values of humanity”.
Special care for victims
The document recognizes the heroic acts of some individuals
who rose in defense of others from different religious and ethnic backgrounds.
It also highlights the urgency of supporting persons impacted by the crimes of
the IS, especially since members of all religions across Iraq have been
affected by their actions.
Citing the particular cases of victims of sexual and
gender-based crimes, the religious leaders expressed their commitment to
“ensuring that survivors of such crimes are fully supported and do not suffer
from any form of stigmatization.”
The document describes the child victims of the IS violence
as “innocent children of God.” As such, they are “blameless and should benefit
from love and kindness.” Also, a plea is made for the return of those taken
from their homes.
Justice and fair trial
Underlining the importance of justice, the statement affirms
the collective support for the exposure and prosecution of individual members
of IS crimes in courts of law. This is to serve as a “means of delivering
justice” and as a “tool for promoting understanding of the severity and scale
of its violence.”
The UN has hailed this statement as “the beginning of a
process of further engagement with other religious leaders in Iraq.”
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