Source: latimes.com
Muslim advocacy groups across the U.S. joined the chorus of voices condemning an attack on a satirical magazine in France that left 12 people dead on Wednesday, calling the morning shootings “cowardly” and “inhumane.”
Nihad Awad, executive director of the Washington D.C. based Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the attacks at Charlie Hebdo in Paris were not representative of the larger Muslim community and asked for understanding in the wake of the bloodshed.
“We strongly condemn this brutal and cowardly attack and reiterate our repudiation of any such assault on freedom of speech, even speech that mocks faiths and religious figures,” Awad said in a statement. “The proper response to such attacks on the freedoms we hold dear is not to vilify any faith, but instead to marginalize extremists of all backgrounds who seek to stifle freedom and to create or widen societal divisions.”
Dr. Nasim Rehmatullah, vice president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, a national faith-based advocacy group, said the attacks were in direct contradiction to Muslim teachings.
“Nothing justifies this barbaric and inhumane attack,” said Dr. Nasim Rehmatullah, National Vice President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. “Islam and Prophet Muhammad teach that life is sacrosanct and specifically forbids any worldly punishment for blasphemy. The culprits behind this atrocity have violated every Islamic tenet of compassion, justice, and peace.”
Categories: Ahmadiyyat: True Islam, Americas, Islam, United States