Last night a vote was taken on whether Britain should strike Syria in a combined world effort to tackle Daesh. The strikes were voted in 397 to 223, whilst in the background ‘Stop the War’ Coalition protestors were shouting ‘no bombs’. This debate on Syria has been hanging over the nation for several weeks with powerful arguments on both those for and against strikes. Ever since Neville Chamberlain’s Munich Agreement fallacy with Nazi Germany, Prime Ministers in Britain have been wary of acceding to a tyrannical enemy – especially when the enemy is as harsh and oppressive as Deash.
Yesterday re-occurring arguments were based on the safety of Britain as a country, it was highlighted that the root of extremism needed to be stamped outeradicated in order to safeguard Britain and the world from extremism. No nation or government wants to allow its citizens to suffer attack or to allow extremism to flourish during its term, it is therefore not surprising that air strikes were voted in. The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev Justin Welby correctly identified that the ‘criteria for Just War’ had been met but at the same time he encouraged ‘peace’ and ‘nation building’.[1].
Many of the CCF’s close friends and patrons made their views known to the House of Commons in the 11-hour long debate leading up to the vote. Former Chairman of the CCF, David Burrowes MP, said that the decision taken by the RAF to engage ISIL in Iraq last year defended Christians and Muslims alike in the region, and that the ‘legal and moral case for intervention is clear’ [2]. Jeremy Lefroy MP, a CCF Board trustee, spoke of the imminent danger that British citizens face abroad and expressed his support for airstrikes as it is an extension of what the UK is already doing against ISIL in Iraq, is in-keeping with international law, and excludes use of ground troops [3]. The Second Church Estates Commissioner, Caroline Spelman MP, reflected on the important role of faith in war-torn regions. Caroline reminded MPs that ‘The Church is well placed to help … By reaching out to other people of faith and showing common cause in tackling extremism, we can demonstrate to a fearful secular world that faith leaders hold one of the keys to finding a solution’ [4].
We encourage Christians to pray and fast for this conflict.
- Pray for peace in the region and protection for the civilians
- Pray for Military and Government wisdom in regards to the Strikes
- Pray for those who are being persecuted by Daesh.
Read More about the vote:
References:
[1] http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/5648/archbishop-of-canterburys-speech-on-syria
[2] http://davidburrowes.com/content/syria-0
[3] http://www.jeremylefroy.org.uk/news/jeremy-lefroy-statement-syria-debate
[4] http://www.carolinespelman.com/news/extending-air-strikes-syria-second-church-estates-commissioner