Society

World Evangelical Alliance Head to Join ‘Save Darfur’ Rally

The head of the World Evangelical Alliance will join dozens of prestigious speakers at the major 'Save Darfur' rally in Washington D.C. this weekend in calling for an end to violence in the war-stricken region.

by Maria Mackay

Posted: Wednesday, April 26, 2006, 15:31 (BST)

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The leader of the World Evangelical Alliance is expected to join a troupe of top human rights advocates as well as tens of thousands of concerned citizens outside the Capitol in Washington D.C. for a major rally which will call for an end to violence in Darfur.

The ‘Save Darfur,’ rally which will take place on Apr 30th, will see International Director of the WEA, Geoff Tunnicliffe, take to the platform along with dozens of other high-profile speakers to denounce the humanitarian crisis that continues unabated in war-torn Darfur.

"For almost four years, government-backed militias have terrorised the Western region of Sudan, slaughtering hundreds of thousands and forcing millions more to flee the country," said a WEA media advisory obtained by ANS.

It continued: "Despite strong statements from leaders in the U.S. and the UN, millions of people continue to suffer and die in Darfur. Organisers of the Save Darfur rally hope to bring immediate change to this situation by placing public pressure on the White House and Congress."

The Bible makes it very clear we must take a stand with those who are voiceless and powerless.

Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director of the WEA

"The Bible makes it very clear we must take a stand with those who are voiceless and powerless," said Tunnicliffe, according to ANS. "Today we stand with the Darfur people and speak out loudly against the outrageous atrocities to which they are being subjected."

Tunnicliffe appealed to the millions of evangelical Christians around the world to stand up for the rights of vulnerable people across the globe.

“As Evangelical Christians we are committed to the Authority of the Bible," he said. "We call upon the 420 million evangelicals Christians in the world to join with others in responding to the Biblical exhortation of Proverbs 31:8-9: speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Mr Tunnicliffe will be joined by a top line-up which includes Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, Paul Rusesabagina, winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom after he risked his life to save 1,000 people in his hotel during the Rwandan Genocide, an event recreated by the startling movie Hotel Rwanda.

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