Muslim world leaders condemn terror attacks done in name of Islam
Mohamed Fatris Bakaram, the Mufti of Singapore, told the country’s Catholic Archbishop that Islam completely condemns the Easter Sunday terrorist attack in Lahore which targeted Christians and civilians, killing at least 72 people.
In a letter of condolence to Catholic Church leader Mgr.William Goh, Bakaram stated that the suicide attack in Lahore, “is not only against Islamic teachings, but it is also an attack against all humanity.” He continued:”it is unjustifiable to attack another human being just because they have a different faith,” and described an attack as “an act of inhumanity and an affront to the people who believe in the values of compassion and peaceful coexistence.” Bakaram expressed deepest condolences to the families of all the victims and added “ We must join together to tell our clear horror of such acts of inhumanity.”
The mufti added, “it is unjustifiable to attack another human being just because they have a different faith,” and described an attack as “an act of inhumanity and an affront to the people who believe in the values of compassion and peaceful coexistence.”
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore also said that it is “outraged by such cruelty,” referring to the numerous attacks carried out by Islamic radicals across the world in the past few weeks The Council sent its condolences to victims in Istanbul, Jakarta, Syria, Ankara, Brussels and Lahore: “Along with all Muslims and all the inhabitants of Singapore, we express closeness and solidarity to the families of all the victims of these senseless tragedies”.
Other Islamic representative bodies have also condemned the violence, including Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa. Their president Maulana Ihsaan Hendricks said “The Islamic teaching in the Quran states that, ‘Whoever kills a person, it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind,'” but noted that terrorist groups refuse to respect such teachings.
The Muslim Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, speaking at the opening of the International Islamic Conference on Peace and Nation Building in Abuja, made it clear that the teachings of Islam forbid extremism in all forms: “Islam does not permit lawlessness. It frowns at extremism even in normal acts of worship. The emergence of any group advocating the contrary is therefore irreligious and unacceptable.”
President Buhari said “The tragic paradox of the global insurgency situation is that most of the atrocities committed by various insurgents all over the world today, are being carried out mainly by people who pretend to be Muslims, yet most of the victims and casualties are equally Muslims…. To underscore their cruelty and godlessness, they particularly target the most vulnerable members of the society: children, women and the elderly.”
Buhari called upon religious leaders to stand up and oppose false teachings that motivate violent insurgents, stating “No religion approves of such heinous crimes against humanity; definitely not Islam nor Christianity, the two to which most Nigerians belong. This is a tragedy which all normal people must rise up against.”
Buhari urged all religious, community and political leaders to steer their followers away from corruption and crime, and instead teach them to be more tolerant of one another and to recognize the religious freedom rights of others.
Nigeria’s population is divided roughly between Christians and Muslims who have coexisted peacefully for years. However, in recent years radical Islamic groups have risen up, carrying out massacres against Christians in an attempt to tear the country apart.
ACN Malta
