Faith Leaders Join Forces for "Weekend of Prayer" for Darfur

 Prominent Leaders Bridge Faiths to Speak Out on Faith Community's Joint Response to the Worsening Humanitarian Crisis

Washington, D.C., - Three prominent leaders across faiths stood united today in their call for the immediate safety and protection of the people of Darfur in a media briefing telephone conference arranged by the Save Darfur Coalition. Sheikh Fadhel Al-Sahlani, spiritual leader of the Imam Al-Khoei Foundation, Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ, and Rabbi Steve Gutow, executive director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, also announced their joint support of a "Weekend of Prayer for Darfur," which will be observed by more than 1,000 houses of worship across the nation Dec. 8, 9 and 10.

"When faith communities join together toward a common goal, it sends a message that transcends not just faith but all of humanity," said David Rubenstein, executive director of the Save Darfur Coalition.

Seventy-eight national faith-based organizations participated in a full-page USA Today advertisement that appeared in today's newspaper to promote the upcoming weekend. Additionally, more than 1,300 houses of worship and faith-based organizations throughout the United States requested the Coalition's "A Call to Your Conscience" banner, which will be displayed throughout the weekend to demonstrate a collective voice calling for immediate protection for the people of Darfur.

"I'm reminded of an African proverb that says, ‘If you want to walk fast, walk alone; if you want to walk far, walk together.' This weekend we're going to walk far together and we're going to walk urgently together in prayer, hoping for the violence to stop," said Rev. Edgar, who reminded listeners of his act of civil disobedience some two years ago of praying at the steps of the Sudanese Embassy that led to his arrest. 

"If there's one issue that we're united on, it's the issue of trying to stop this horrible genocide in Darfur," said Rabbi Gutow, whose organization represents 13 national Jewish organizations. "We are all opening our hearts and our lips to try to bring G-d into this discussion and into this work."

"I appeal to all people of conscience, especially to all Muslim communities across North America to stand up and start a movement to stop this violence," said Sheikh Al-Sahlani, who is also the North American representative of the Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, in a statement after the briefing.

Since it began in February 2003, the violence sponsored by the Sudanese government and perpetrated by its Janjaweed militias has claimed at least 400,000 lives, displaced 2.5 million people and left more than 3.5 million men, women and children struggling to survive amid violence and starvation.

"This is spreading beyond just Darfur. It's spreading into Chad, it's spreading into other parts of Africa, and the time for urgency is now," Rev. Dr. Edgar said. "We think peacekeeping is important, an interim force should act now, a long term force should come as quickly as possible. The people of Darfur need a guaranteed protection, and they need it now."

During the Weekend of Prayer, local faith communities and organizations are being encouraged to dedicate a sermon, observe a moment of silence or pray for the people of Darfur during services.  The Save Darfur Coalition has asked participating congregations and communities to take further action. Faith-Action packets and tools to take action are available at www.savedarfur.org. 

About Sheikh Fadhel Al-Sahlani - Sheikh Fadhel Al-Sahlani is the spiritual leader of the Al-Khoei Islamic Center in Queens, New York and the official representative of Iraq's leading Shia religious authority, the Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, in the United States. Iraqi born, Al-Sahlani moved to the United States in the late 1970s.

About Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar - Dr. Bob Edgar is general secretary of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, the leading U.S. organization in the movement for Christian unity. Among other initiatives, the Council engages in areas of fostering interfaith understanding, and building international peace.  Dr. Edgar also served six terms (1974-1987) as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania's 7^th congressional district.

About Rabbi Steve Gutow -Rabbi Steve Gutow is the Executive Director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), the public affairs arm of the organized Jewish community. Gutow is a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association.

About David Rubenstein - David Rubenstein, executive director of the Save Darfur Coalition, helped found the organization in 2004 and has worked since then to raise awareness about the crisis and to advocate for the protection for the people of Darfur. Rubenstein has met with world leaders, noted global advocates, refugees and hundreds of allied organizations to discuss the crisis and how to spur the world community to action.

About The Banners - The banner is 3 ft. by 8 ft., durable plastic, with metal grommets for hanging on a wall or signposts. Faith-organizations and houses of worship can order a banner via the Save Darfur Coalition website www.savedarfur.org/faith.

About the Media Call: Archives of the call are available for download:

Real Player: http://orion.calleci.com/servlet/estreamgetevent?id=7403&folder=ccimeet
Windows Media Player: http://orion.calleci.com/servlet/estreamgetevent?id=7404&folder=ccimeet.