Tabaski: Vincent Fouda calls on Cameroonians to promote peace

Dear compatriots, people of Muslim faith,

My family and I join with joy with you to celebrate the Tabaski. The opportunity is for us again, to extend our thoughts, our fraternity and our solidarity in the constantly renewed search of justice, truth, peace and social cohesion of our dear country Cameroon.

The feast of l’AÏD EL KEBIR, which is the sign of obedience of Abraham to God, gives us the opportunity to see how many times the people of Cameroon encounter the Father in faith. As a son of the same Father, without distinction of religion and belief, we must work towards the strengthening of our ties of brotherhood and peace in our country.

We must, together and among the three religions in our country, contribute to create a climate of social peace that passes through love, forgiveness, tolerance, justice, truth, respect for freedom of religion and belief.

Pope Benedict XVI stated with conviction on July 18, 2008, at an inter-religious meeting: "the unity of the thoughts of all those who have a religious belief stimulates nations and communities to resolve conflicts through peaceful instruments fully respecting human dignity." My family and I share this belief.

The true nature of peace is not limited only to an absence of war or a balance of opposing forces, but it is both a gift of God and human; to build without ceasing.

This is why I stressed in my meeting with theologians of Islam at the Mosque of Maroua in August, at the time when the usurpers of the name of God, rush in the horror of terror, instead of our will to live.

Together we should mount the pressure so that with the example of Abraham, who let himself guided by the will of God, they humbly put away their weapon and their hatred for a sacrifice that really pleases God.

Muslim believers, we can (you and us) build peace around us and in our country. On behalf of the Cameroonian movement for democracy, I would like to express our appreciation to the Muslim leaders of our country, for their availability and their efforts in the promotion of inter-religious dialogue and peace-building.

May we submit to the will of God like Abraham to receive divine graces.

Let God the most merciful, unite us in a spirit of family and give us the joy of living in harmony.

Happy feast day to you.