Dear Tanenbaum Community,
Our thoughts are with the loved ones and communities in India, Kashmir, and all affected by the horrific violence that took place during the terror attacks in Pahalgam on April 22nd, which left at least 26 people dead. We hold the families and friends of the victims closely in our hearts.
The shooting in Pahalgam was the deadliest attack on civilians in Kashmir in decades, with reports that victims were targeted and killed because of their religious identity. News is also unfolding of residents in Kashmir, a predominantly Muslim territory, fearing retaliation for the attacks.
Tensions in the region are escalating following the attacks. For decades, Kashmir has been marked by geopolitical tension and sectarian conflict with civilians often caught in the crossfire. The region’s longstanding disputes are often fueled by political agendas that weaponize religious identities, creating a climate of fear, division, and persecution.
Our calls to end persecution based on religious identity or belief must ring loud across all religious, spiritual, and faith communities. Together, we can build unity among people of all backgrounds by refusing to let our differences ever become a justification for violence.
No one should ever be targeted for who they are, what they believe, or how they are perceived.
To learn more about the history of this conflict, here is more background from the Council on Foreign Relations.
In remembrance,
Rev. Mark Fowler, CEO, Tanenbaum