Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson of the High-Representative
of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
On the terrorist attack on a church in Burkina Faso
New York – 1 December 2019
The High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Mr. Miguel Angel Moratinos strongly condemns the terrorist attack on a church in Hantoukoura, in the eastern part of the country on Sunday. The attack killed at least 14 worshipers during Sunday service.
The High Representative stresses that all forms of violence and acts of terror targeting religious sites and worshipers, regardless of their faiths and beliefs, are unjustifiable. He recalls the United Nations Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites, which was developed by UNAOC and launched by the United Nations Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres on 12 September 2019 and calls on all governments, as well as all relevant stakeholders, to support the implementation of the plan so as to guarantee the sanctity of worship places and the safety of worshipers. Mr. Moratinos re-iterated that houses of worship where worshipers observe their rituals in a spirit of compassion and peace, should not be sites for bloodshed and terror.
The High Representative expresses his readiness to support the efforts of the Government of Burkina Faso in fostering interfaith dialogue to build bridges of understanding between the diverse faith communities in Burkina Faso which had been subjected to increasing terrorist attacks on places of worship over the past few years. Last October, 15 worshipers were killed in a mosque attack.
The High Representative for UNAOC expresses his condolences to the victims’ families and the Government and people of Burkina Faso.