GENEVA, February 28, 2015 (WAFA) – The Geneva Center for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue strongly condemned settlers' last week attacks on a mosque and a church in Bethlehem and East Jerusalem, respectively.

 Last Week, Israeli settlers set fire to the Greek Orthodox Church monastery of Sion in Jerusalem as well as torched a mosque in Jab‘a village, in Bethlehem.

 A statement published on the center’s website stated that. “These despicable acts come one week after the essence of the freedom of religion or belief was once again torn to pieces by the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by representatives of the so-called “Islamic State” in Libya.”

It said that The essence of religion is the wellbeing of human beings to live peacefully and to give back to each other within their communities,” adding that, “ These acts of violence were cowardly and unacceptable; the holy city of Jerusalem should be a symbol of peace and harmony between three religions who in turn form communities based on solidarity regardless of politically oriented thought.”

The Geneva Centre would like to emphasize that such acts violate the relevant provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights, said the center.

The Geneva Centre deplores all acts of violence and racism, particularly the ones targeting freedom of religion or belief and places of worship — at all times, in all circumstances, stressing that, “governments affiliated with the perpetration of such acts of racism and violence should be held accountable and swiftly brought to justice.”