Alliance for Reform and Development, a group of Gambians concerned about peace and freedom around the world has written to the French Ambassador to The Gambia to condemn religious hatred and terror attacks in France.
Below we reproduce verbatim, the Open Letter to the French diplomat.
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HE French Ambassador to
The Gambia
Resident in Dakar
29th October, 2020
Your Excellency,
RE: Condemnation of Terrorist Attacks and Religious Hatred
We hope and pray this letter finds you in the best of health.
We are Gambians concerned about peace and freedom around the world. We write this letter to Your Excellency following the beheading of a French history teacher who showed his students cartoons of the Prophet of Islam Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him. While we condemn this heinous act that does not represent the values and teachings of Islam, we equally condemn the publication of a caricature of Prophet Muhammad. Acts of some Muslims should be distinguished clearly from what Islam stands for about human dignity and respect for human rights. The bulk majority of Muslims around the world cherish the pillars of the French Revolution that are anchored on fraternity, equality and liberty. These principles are equally enshrined in the teachings and values of Islam. Islam like any other religion in the West should not be seen as alien but as part and parcel of the social fabric of the French and Western society. The discourse of ”them and us” should be dismantled. Rather, citizenship and mutual respect across the board should be nurtured. This approach will create a culture of valuing diversity and difference. It is hoped that the multicultural approach to diversity will lead to the positive integration of Muslims like other groups and communities into the French society allowing them to contribute towards the creation of a cohesive and tolerant French society.
Your Excellency, once again we condemn any form of violence and terrorism in whatever name. We unreservedly condemn the recent terrorist attacks in Nice and Léon and express our solidarity with the families of the victims. Similarly, we strongly condemn the cartoons of Prophet Muhammad that hurts the sensibilities and sensitivities of more than a billion human beings on the planet.
Finally, we thank you most sincerely and wish you all the best.
Yours sincerely,
Alliance for Reform and Development
Gambia
