US respects all faiths & free speech: Cunningham

KABUL.

“As President Obama said, since our founding, the United States has been a nation that respects all faiths. We reject any efforts to insult and disrespect the religious beliefs of others,” he said.

James B. Cunningham added the video did not represent the values of the United States, which supported religious tolerance as one of its most important principles. 

But free speech was also one of their most important principles, protected by the law.  The US government could not stop individual citizens from expressing their views, however hateful they might be, he explained.

The film, insulting to people of goodwill of all faiths, did not merit a violent response and was not worth the injury or death of innocent people, he said in a statement, hoping all societies would reject provocative attempts to gain attention.

“In our partnership with the sovereign nation of Afghanistan, we share the goal of safety for Afghan families, as well as Afghan-Coalition forces and the larger diplomatic and international community serving in Afghanistan,” the envoy continued..

“I join President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton in condemning in the strongest terms the attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi,” Cunningham said, while sympathising with the family of Ambassador Stevens and other Americans who died in this attack.

pr/mud

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