A group of British faith leaders have issued a joint statement condemning the Norway terrorist attacks and dismissing suggestions the killer was inspired by Christianity.
Anders Behring Breivik is still in custody and being questioned about his self-confessed attacks on a government building in Oslo and a youth camp on the island of Uteoya.
Some newspapers labelled Breivik as a 'Christian fundamentalist' after the attacks, although he has described himself as a ‘cultural Christian’ with no personal relationship to God.
Leaders of the Christian Muslim Forum, the Three Faiths Forum and other faith groups in the UK condemned all acts of violence or terrorism committed in the name of religion.
"We take this opportunity to reiterate that no religion, whatever the practices of those who claim to follow a religion, preaches violence or encourages attacks on the innocent," they said.
"Terrorism is terrorism and violence is violence, neither of these are religious or religiously-motivated.
"We thoroughly repudiate any suggestion that in his attacks Anders Breivik was inspired by Christianity; Christianity and all religions teach respect for human life."
The leaders clarified they were fully supportive of the victim's families and the ongoing legal process against Breivik. They also urged all Europeans to hold dialogues on peace, reject violence, and work for harmonious relations with all people, regardless of their religious or political stance.
They group challenged all Europeans to "avoid scapegoating or reinforcing negativity towards minority communities, especially in the mass media".
"We remain committed to dismantling myths and prejudices, sharing similarities and differences and modelling genuine good relations," they said.
Signatories of the statement included Julian Bond, Director of Christian Muslim Forum, Stephen Shashoua, Director of Three Faiths Forum, and Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Co-Chair, Christian Muslim Forum.