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The Faith Communities Council of Victoria has issued the following statement in response to the recent shooting at Chabad of Poway synagogue in San Diego, California:

The Jewish community has again been hit by another violent synagogue attack this time in San Diego, California. This senseless attack, killing one woman and wounding two men and a girl, has occurred in a sacred place, the Chabad of Poway synagogue, on the last day of the Jewish festival of Passover (Pesach).

As people of faith we offer our prayers to the families of those injured and killed, and stand in solidarity with the Jewish community in their grief and suffering.

This attack comes on the six month anniversary of the horrific mass shooting at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, which claimed the lives of eleven worshippers.

These acts of hate and the anti-semitism and xenophobia that fuels similar acts of violence against the Jewish people and their places of worship has no place in our society and are a painful reminder of the consequences of hate speech.

As faith leaders we pledge to stand together against this hate. An attack on any place of worship, whether in New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pittsburgh or San Diego is an attack on all people of faith, and non faith. These attacks are against humanity and must be called out for what they are.

Together with our shared values of compassion, inclusion, hope and the right to freely practise ones faith without fear, society can and will be a stronger, safer community for all.

Faith Communities Council of Victoria is comprised of the following peak bodies:

Baha'i Community of Victoria, Brahma Kumaris Australia, Buddhist Council of Victoria, Hindu Council of Australia (Vic), Islamic Council of Victoria, Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria and Victorian Council of Churches.

Our peak bodies support the Victorian Values Statement

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