Pledge to Uphold Interfaith Peace

Joint Statement from Members of the US-Pakistani Interreligous Consortium (UPIC) in Response to the Easter Bombing in a Park in Lahore, Pakistan on March 27, 2016.

On March 27, 2016, Easter Sunday, a suicide bomber set off a powerful blast in the eastern city of Lahore, Pakistan, killing 72 Christian and Muslim victims and wounding an estimated 300 others.

The bomb was detonated in a parking lot near a children’s swing set in a park crowded with families. Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park is one of the largest parks in Lahore.

We, the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim members of the US-Pakistan Interreligious Consortium (UPIC), condemn this shocking act of hate-filled terrorist violence.

We stand resolutely with the Christian and Muslim victims, their families, and all who work for peace and justice.

We pray for the deceased, the wounded, the Pakistani people, and all who were affected by this tragedy.

We pledge:

 To continue our work to reduce negative perceptions and
 mistrust between Americans and Pakistanis;

 To foster the capacity of our member organizations to make
 peace domestically and internationally by exchanging best
 practices, fostering skill development, sharing resources,
 building networks, and facilitating cooperation in both
 countries;

 To use our capacity to address pressing issues of mutual
 interest, especially as they affect US-Pakistan relations;
 and

 To model for civil society how cross-national, interfaith,
 experiential education can unite divided communities.

Add your name to the pledge here.