As local leaders of the Christian and Muslim religions, two great world faiths, we stand shoulder to shoulder in our concern for our world at this dangerous and fearful time. We are both saddened that diplomacy has failed and that we have entered into a war, the outcome of which none of us can predict.

We pray that God's compassion and mercy may be his gift to us all, especially to those who now find themselves fighting one another in the theatre of war.

We acknowledge that we human beings are bound to hold various opinions about the legitimacy and wisdom of this war, but our fervent hope for the people of our communities is that we do not allow ourselves to be divided against one another, especially by that hatred which forgets that we are all children of the one God, whatever our religion or our ethnic identity.

The people of Iraq have suffered at the hands of a dictator, but let us not allow his inhumanity to infect us! Let us stand together, and pray for the long-suffering people of Iraq, that they may soon live in a country free from war, free from fear, and once more a full member of the community of nations.

Bishop Laurie Green    Bishop of Bradwell

Brother Sarfraz Sarwar  Basildon Islamic Centre