HRH Prince El Hassan, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies, on Monday June 23, condemned attacks on peaceful worshippers, describing them as violations of the core values shared by all religions.

In a message of condolence to Patriarch John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for the Greek Orthodox Church, Prince El Hassan expressed his sorrow over the terrorist bombing that targeted St. Elias Church in the Dweilaa district of Damascus.

The Prince also stressed that extremist groups claiming to act in the name of Islam grossly distort the religion’s true teachings, which emphasize the sanctity of human life and the protection of all people, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He described the attack as an assault on the principles of peace, compassion, and human dignity that are deeply rooted in both Christianity and Islam.

Prince El Hassan also referred to a meeting held in Amman last May under the title “Christians in the Arab East: Aspirations for Unity and Enlightenment”, which brought together Christian religious leaders, as well as Muslim and Christian intellectuals.

The conference underscored the ethical role of religion in society, the importance of separating religion from political agendas, and the need to reject the politicization of faith. It also called for joint efforts to combat all forms of religious and sectarian extremism, counter hate speech, and renounce violence in all its forms.