Sutcliffe meets with Ottawa faith leaders, joint statement condemning hate surpasses 55 signatures

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. Photo/The Canadian Press

By CityNews Ottawa

Posted Oct 20, 2023 04:35:26 PM.

Last Updated Oct 24, 2023 11:52:31 AM.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he met with faith leaders across Ottawa last week who have released and signed a joint statement condemning hatred in all its forms as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

“I met with local Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith leaders from throughout Ottawa about working together to ensure Ottawa remains safe and peaceful, and to denounce all forms of hatred and discrimination in our city, no matter what is happening in other parts of the world,” said Mayor Sutcliffe.

This week I met with local Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith leaders from throughout Ottawa about working together to ensure Ottawa remains safe and peaceful, and to denounce all forms of hatred and discrimination in our city, no matter what is happening in other parts of the…
— Mark Sutcliffe (@_MarkSutcliffe) October 20, 2023

The statement has been co-signed by 58 local faith leaders as of Oct. 24, 2023.

“We recognize that there is tremendous pain and grief in our city right now,” the joint statement said. “While we may not agree on everything, and at times, it may seem like we agree on very little, here in Ottawa we have a commitment that we share with every good person in the world.”

The letter asks the “wonderful residents of our beloved city” to join leaders in calling out all forms of hatred, and “to never glorify or take joy in violence.”

“We urge everyone to never allow our ideologies, religious beliefs, or political positions to become a cause for hatred of another human being,” the statement continued. “We are all neighbours. We stand with each other and against all forms of hate now and forever.”

The Ottawa faith leader who co-signed the letter are: