Malaysiakini || Jan 9, 10 5:27pm
Hundred and twenty-one civil society movements today issued a joint statement condemning the arson attack on three churches in the Klang Valley yesterday.
Out of the 121 signatories, some 20 were present at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon to voice their “solidarity” with the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati, Church of Assumption and Life Chapel in Petaling Jaya.
“Nothing warrants such deliberately provocative violent acts, amounting to terrorism, on places of worship,” said Farouk Musa of the Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), who spoke on the behalf of those present.
“Such violence however must not be seen as a communal conflict of Muslims and Christians. It is as much an affront to Islam and to all religions as it is to the Christians.”
Farouk also referred to yesterday's protests by Muslim groups against the court decision allowing Catholic weekly The Herald to use 'Allah' in its Bahasa Malaysia section.
“While we celebrate freedom of expression, no demonstration must be carried out to intimidate others who hold different opinions,” he said.
“These acts are truly a blot on the image that we promote of ourselves as a harmonious multiracial and diverse society. It is also tantamount to an attack on the cardinal principle of the rule of law and the institution of the judiciary, which must at all times be left to decide on a case without fear, favour or intimidation.”