Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches
Berne, January 23 2003
The Council of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (FSPC) strongly disapproves of leading a preventive war against Iraq. The Council considers the devastating consequences to be completely unacceptable for the Iraqi population that has already been driven into misery. The resentments between the Islamic and the Jewish-Christian world would be deepened. Moreover, it appears that according the UN Charter the conditions for a preventive war are not given. Although the Council stresses the necessity of continuously exerting pressure on the regime in Baghdad, it contradicts the Christian view on the world and humanity however if war was used as a means to remove evils and irregularities in Iraq.
The Council of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches strongly disapproves of leading a preventive war against Iraq. There are several reasons for this disapproval:
First of all, the Council of the FSPC has fundamental doubts about the devastating consequences of a possible war against the Iraqi civilian population. Already today, both the totalitarian and inhuman regime and the embargo now lasting for twelve years have led to disastrous effects. If a war would break out the bulk of the victims were to be found amongst the civilians. The population would be affected not only directly by the killings and injuries of the war, but also indirectly by the fatal (social, health and economic) consequences of such a war. In addition, the situation in the Middle East would further be destabilized. The resentments between the Islamic and the Jewish-Christian world would be deepened and new conflicts may be developed the dimensions of which cannot be guessed.
Furthermore, the Council of the FSPC recognizes a preventive military strike of the United States against Iraq as being a violation of international law as recorded in the UN Charter. Even if globalized terror has led to a paradigm shift and brought about aggressive policies between nations, the FSPC does not consider the imminent threat to be the required precondition to start a preventive war. When there is no imminent threat of attack, but a probable, yet vague insecurity, the universal standard of banning violence must be kept if international law is not to be undermined. Moreover, the FSPC Council voices its strong opposition against any action that has not been sanctioned by the UN. Such an action would constitute a serious violation of the rules and regulations that shape the international community of states.
At the same time, the FSPC Council underlines the necessity of a permanent control of the Iraqi regime and its internal and external aggressions under the auspices of the UN. However, the idea that war could do away with evil fundamentally contradicts Christian love of peace and respect for life. The Council of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches hopes for a peaceful solution of the conflict and calls up for intercessions for all powerbrokers and people concerned.
