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Prince Hasan Statement

03-Mar-08
HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan

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HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan,
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies,
President Emeritus of the World Conference on Religions for Peace
Condemning the kidnapping of Archbishop Paulus Faraj Rahho

We are extremely shocked and pained by the news of the kidnapping of the Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Mosul, Paulus Faraj Rahho and by the murder of three of his companions. These criminal acts defy our principles of common humanity and offend our religious values and codes of conduct.

We condemn all acts of kidnapping and assassination as contrary to the basic precept of respect for human life and liberty. We are extremely saddened by the kidnapping of Archbishop Rahho and by any crimes committed against the Christian religious community in Iraq. The traditional Christian communities of this troubled country stand as a testament to the age-old respect for our brothers in faith, the people of the book, who have commanded our love and filial protection since the days of the Prophet (PBUH). It shocks us greatly to learn of these crimes against those men and women who carry the Abrahamic message of love, peace and brotherhood. These holy men must not be made victims of conflict, nor should they pay a price for political quarrels under any circumstances.

We call on the Ummah and the entire global community to join us in condemning this act and to take all possible measures to win the freedom of Archbishop Rahho and to help prevent such crimes being committed in the future. We call on world leaders of conscience to take immediate action to expedite the release of Archbishop Rahho and of others who have suffered the same fate. We must all stand firmly against these criminal acts and affirm to our communities that they are against all religious and human principles and values.