Paul Keenan
“Violence in the name of religion is always wrong ” – this was the message of the Catholic bishops of Bangladesh this week as they condemned the slaughter of diners at a restaurant in the capital, Dhaka on July 1.
In a message of sympathy issued after 20 people, mainly Italian and Japanese citizens, were killed by seven armed men shouting “Allahu Akbar”, the bishops said: “We condemn the violence of terrorism that has contempt for human life and we invite everyone to be touched and transformed by values such as mercy and forgiveness, which are the authentic traits of a human being.
Mourning
“We fully participate in the mourning in which the country is in and we pray for the souls of the victims and their families, expressing deep sympathy.”
Bangladesh’s tiny Catholic community hosted vigils in all its churches for the dead of the restaurant attack.
The strength of the prelates’ message was echoed by Pope Francis, who issued a telegram of sympathy to Bangladesh on learning of the incident. According to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin: “His Holiness Pope Francis expresses heartfelt condolences and condemns such barbarous acts as offences against God and humanity. In commending the dead to God’s mercy, His Holiness gives the assurance of his prayers for the grieving families and the wounded.”
The so-called Islamic State group (ISIS) was quick to claim responsibility for the attack and police in Bangladesh were able to identify five of the seven killers from a photo issued by the terror group.
They included privately-educated sons of prominent families in the country, with one coming from a well-known political family.
Bangladesh has been riven by militant Islamist violence in recent years, with numerous machete attacks on bloggers, atheists and members of minority communities. Despite this, authorities appear reluctant to acknowledge the presence of ISIS in the country, and even in this latest case have blamed an entirely separate and local militant grouping which is outlawed.