WCRC statement on detention, deportation of WCC official

The WCRC stands with the World Council of Churches against the detention, interrogation and deportation of Dr. Isabel Apawo Phiri by Israeli security forces when she was attempting to enter the country to attend consultations with church leaders in Jerusalem on the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI).

In May our Executive Committee joined with the World Council of Churches in protesting how the Israeli security forces treated members of the WCC Working Group on Climate Change, several of whom were detained at the border when attempting to join a scheduled meeting.

And now there has been this incident with Phiri, the WCC’s associate general secretary for Public Witness and Diakonia. We are deeply concerned that Israel continues to turn away from engagement and constructive dialogue in the search for justice, reconciliation and peace. The action was doubly wrong because it damages relations that will promote peace with justice and denies churches in Israel and Palestine appropriate contact with religious organisations such as the WCC.

Once again we hold up these words from Matthew 5:9-11:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

Read more:

• WCC: Israeli treatment of WCC leadership unjust and discrimintatory