[World Council of Churches press release] In an open letter to the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary expressed “profound distress” over a series of bomb attacks that have occurred within the last week in Pakistan, killing many people including worshippers at the All Saints Church in Peshawar.

“By expressing our strong condemnation of these acts of terrorism, we express our sincere condolences and sympathy, especially to the families of those who were killed and injured,” said Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, in a letter issued on 3 October.

“We hold all people of Pakistan in our thoughts and prayers,” he added.

Tveit shared that the WCC has always expressed serious concern about the safety and security of the religious minorities in Pakistan especially amidst the growing threat of religious extremism.

He mentioned his visit to Pakistan in 2011 when, Tveit said, he had the opportunity to hear about the plight of Christians in Pakistan and understand the fear experienced by religious minorities living amidst “insecurity and lack of adequate protection”.

He urged the Pakistani government to take the measures necessary to provide security to vulnerable communities, especially those religious communities faced with constant threats to their lives.

Read full text of the WCC general secretary’s letter to the Pakistani prime minister

Sorrow over church bombings in Pakistan (WCC news release of 23 September 2013)

WCC member churches in Pakistan