PRESS RELEASE

19.04.2007

The attack in Malatya on April 18, 2007 to a publishing house and the ensuing slay of three people in a ruthless manner have shocked us and put all of us in a deep sorrow particularly at a time when all in society are striving to do what they are obliged for contributing social peace, harmony, mutual respect and tolerance.

According to all religions and our common belief, slaying a person is a grave sin which is commensurate to slaying humanity as a whole. Therefore, attacking innocent people—regardless of which religion, value or goal is used to justify it—is an unequivocal treason to religion and the common values humanity has been trying to jointly develop. These murders against innocent people cannot have any religious, national, philosophical or humanistic reason.

What further aggregates the situation is that, according to the information disseminated by the news media, this murder has been carried against a publishing house which prepares, publishes, distributes and markets the sacred books of the followers of their religion.

It should be known, as a matter of fact, that the analogous incidents during the last year, which put our society as a whole in sorrow, have not originated from the mutual perception of religions and religious people. Our sorrow and worry are multiplied as these deplorable crimes become an element of diminishing internal harmony of our country, its international prestige and mutual relations.

As the Presidency of Religious Affairs we denounce with disgust this incident which poisoned the atmosphere of social harmony, peace and the long experience of coexistence and wish that these incidents never occur again. We offer our best condolences to the friends and the relatives of the deceased.

Presented to the public with regards.

PRESIDENCY OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS