NC Interfaith Statement - Denouncing U.S. & Israel War with Iran

We, people of faith across North Carolina, stand united in denouncing the United States and Israel’s war with Iran. This illegal war reflects a profound disregard for the U.S. constitution and the sacredness of human life. All people have the right to freedom and self-determination, but this war only deepens the suffering of the Iranian people and undermines the possibility of their liberation. These actions also move our nation further down a path of moral degradation and keep us farther from a world of safety, security, and peace. Today, in the tradition of generations of people of faith and conscience before us, we call on our nation’s leaders to end this war.

The Trump administration’s actions are part of a long-standing pattern of anti-Muslim policies rooted in Christian nationalist ideology. Over the past 25 years, the U.S. has used a false claim to morality as pretext for wars against Muslim-majority countries. This is not a battle between “good and evil”. It is an existential contest between truth and lies. We reject the lies that portray Muslims and Arabs as “religious extremists,” and “terrorists.” This has led our nation to establish a wide range of Islamophobic domestic policies, including a Muslim registry, the launch of the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, and the Muslim travel ban. Negative media portrayals and policies have given license to politically motivated violence against Muslims and people perceived as Muslims. This includes the tragic murder of three Muslim students —Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha, and Razan Abu-Salh in Chapel Hill on February 10th, 2015.

North Carolinians of faith understand the connection between the autocratic ideologies driving this war and the violent authoritarianism being inflicted on the people of the United States. From Tehran to Gaza, Beirut to Minneapolis, this administration and its corporate supporters envision a world that serves a powerful and wealthy few while sacrificing the safety of the many. The struggles of oppressed peoples across the globe will always be intertwined. So too is our liberation. In this spirit, we reject all narratives asserting that our freedom and safety depend on the oppression of any peoples, be they immigrants, asylum seekers or the citizens of Iran.

Our shared faith traditions affirm that human life is sacred and that every person carries profound value. The protection of life must guide our moral and political choices. War threatens these values by placing civilians directly in harm’s way, leaving lasting scars on families and communities. We also lament that the U.S. and Israel have chosen to launch this war during the holy month of Ramadan. The cost of war is measured not only in lives lost, but in families torn apart, communities displaced, economies devastated, and generations left to carry the trauma of violence. It is a moral failure that we cannot accept. Moreover, our nation chooses to spend countless billions on war, while it cuts what little is dedicated to programs like healthcare, and food assistance for the American people. Our nation’s budget is a moral document. It shows us what and who we value. This administration has clearly demonstrated that it does not value life, safety, and well-being both at home and abroad.

We call on the North Carolina delegation to Congress to join us in condemning the U.S. and Israel’s attack in Iran and take immediate action to limit the powers of the Trump administration to conduct this illegal war. It is the responsibility of Congress to check the power of the Executive branch, and yet, we have witnessed the continuous abdication of that responsibility. When you do so, you surrender the power of your office, and betray North Carolinians, and the constitution that you have sworn to uphold. This moment in our nation’s history demands moral leadership that is courageous and unyielding. The people of your state urge you to claim your power, honor your conscience, and stop this war.