Bishops Express Solidarity with Muslim Community
HYDERABAD, India, MAY 22, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Church called people to refrain from violence and maintain peace after five people were killed and 35 were injured when a bomb exploded in Asia's biggest mosque.
The blast occurred Friday while thousands of people were gathered in the Hyderabad mosque for prayer, the Indian Catholic News Service reported.
The historic Mecca mosque, said to be over 400 years old, is Asia's biggest. It is situated just 100 yards from another famous mosque, Charminar. There was no report on the damage done to the structure.
The Catholic bishops' conference of India was quick to condemn the act of violence: "The [conference] expresses its strong disapproval of the bomb blast that took place in Hyderabad."
"Violence is no answer to any social problems, and the attempt of some misguided elements to vitiate the social atmosphere should not be allowed to take roots," said the bishops' spokesman, Father Babu Joseph.
The Church has "appealed to all concerned to refrain from violence and maintain peace and harmony."
Also quick to condemn the bombing was Archbishop Marampudi Joji of Hyderabad: "On behalf of the 6 million Christians of [the state of] Andhra Pradesh, I send my deepest sympathies to the bereaved families and maintain prayerful solidarity with the injured.
"It's indeed unfortunate that people take to violence and attack innocent people at a house of worship to achieve their goals."
Archbishop Joji requested "all communities to maintain peace and order," especially given that "in the city of Hyderabad, the Christian community always had a very cordial relationship with the Muslim community."
Code: ZE07052217
Date: 2007-05-22