By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THE Casey Multifaith Network has condemned the weekend’s terrorist shootings in Paris, labelling them an attack on “all of humanity”.
In an official response members of the network expressed their “deepest condolences” to the victims and families of the attacks in Paris and Beirut.
Executive member of the network and Muslim Sohail Yamin said terrorism “has no religion”.
“These barbaric terrorists must be held accountable as individuals, not as representatives of any faith,” Sohail said.
The network’s new president Stephanie Saunders called for calm in the wake of the tragedy.
“We live in a world where events that occur in one part of the world have instantaneous effects throughout the globe,” she said.
“As a network with the objective of promoting interfaith harmony, I urge members of the wider community to maintain calm in face of the attacks that occurred over the weekend.
“We must not let our richness of diversity be diminished by the abhorrent acts of a minority.”
Vice-president Jim Reiher said he knew many “peace-loving and law-abiding Muslims” who are “equally mortified by the events in Paris”.
“Compassion must prevail at this time,” he said.
Authorities have confirmed the current death toll from the Paris attacks is 129 and counting, with more than 40 estimated to be in intensive care.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the six co-ordinated attacks in France’s capital; the country’s worst since WWII.
As well as shootings at local bars and restaurants, the deadliest assault was at the Bataclan concert venue where more than 1000 people gathered to watch rock band Eagles of Death Metal.
It comes as Lebanon held a day of national mourning after more than 40 were killed in two suicide bombings in the capital, Beirut, on Thursday.
The bombing was the deadliest in Beirut since the end of Lebanon’s civil war in 1990.
For more information about the Casey Multi-Faith Network, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/caseymultifaith
