15 March 2012
Church leaders call for UN action on 1st anniversary of Syria uprising
The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the
United Reformed Church have added their voices to the growing call
for the UN Security Council to demonstrate a united opposition to
the violent actions of the Syrian regime.
Since the start of mass protests one year ago, thousands of people
are thought to have been killed in the uprising.
Christians across Britain are being urged to pray for the nation
using this
special prayer.
The full statement from the Church leaders follows:
We are dismayed by the Syrian Government's violent and unrestrained
attacks on its own citizens, resulting in thousands of deaths and
significant numbers of refugees flooding into neighbouring
countries. Such action cannot possibly be justified.
UN Special Representative Kofi Annan's initiative with the Syrian
government is crucial and deserves the undivided support of the
international community. Given the tragic events of the past year,
we call on Russia and China to accept that it is unjust for the
Assad regime to continue to receive diplomatic and military
support.
The United Nations Security Council must unequivocally condemn
Syria's state-sanctioned attacks on its own people and we support
the call by humanitarian and human rights groups for a Security
Council resolution demanding an immediate end to the killing. All
armed groups must allow unrestricted access of humanitarian
agencies to those areas where people are currently without food,
healthcare or education.
We are concerned that, should diplomatic initiatives fail and the
opposition groups achieve success in securing support for arms, the
violence could escalate still further. Our prayers are for a halt
to the bloodshed and for diplomacy and mediation to offer a way
forward for the Syrian people.
As Christian communities we are also concerned for the Syrian
Christian churches and communities that represent a minority in the
land. With them we long for a nation in which all can live in
security and peace under the law.
Revd Leo Osborn
President of the Methodist Conference
Revd Dr Kirsty Thorpe
Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed
Church
Revd Jonathan Edwards
General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain