United Nations Letter to Sodhi Family
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
Message to the Sikh Community
and to the people of Arizona
Memorial Ceremony for Balbir Singh Sodhi
Phoenix, Arizona
22 September 2001
Message to the Sikh Community
and to the people of Arizona
Memorial Ceremony for Balbir Singh Sodhi
Phoenix, Arizona
22 September 2001
On behalf of the United Nations, I wish to convey my deepest sympathies to the Sikh community at this time of trial. Men and women from all faiths have been outraged by the acts of violence and discrimination that have taken place in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks, both against Sikhs and against people of other faiths and cultures.
I would also like to express my support for the civil authorities and people of Arizona who have chosen to demonstrate their solidarity with the Sikh community by offering their condolences on the tragic death of Balbir Singh Sodhi.
Essential to the global response to the terrorist attacks is a recognition the perpetrators are not, are never, defined by religion or national descent. No people, no region and no religion should be condemned, assaulted or targeted because of the unspeakable acts of individuals. In the words of New York’s Mayor Giuliani. “that is exactly what we are fighting here”. He and President Bush have shown admirable leadership in condemning such actions. Other leaders have done the same. To do otherwise and to allow divisions between and within societies to be exacerbated by acts of terrorism would be to do the terrorists’ work for them
The United Nations will continue to defend all victims of discrimination We stand with the Sikh community, and with all people of tolerance, at this difficult moment for us all.
Kofi A. Annan
Feeds