Muslim Leaders Condemn London Attacks

Muslims leaders come out against the London bridge attack that killed 7 people.

Muslim leaders in London have come out against the terror attacks that took place last week at London Bridge.[/tweetit] The attacks led to the deaths of seven people while grievously injuring 48.

Muslim Leaders Condemn London Attacks[/tweetthis]

Several Muslims gathered at the scene to pay their tributes. Many were seen holding condolence signs at the makeshift vigil.

London-based imam, Abdul Quddus Arif requested mosques across the city to be more transparent and open in the future. “We are greatly troubled by this situation; we simply cannot tolerate innocents being killed or harmed,” Arif said.

The Imam also took the opportunity to address the fact that not all Muslims are radical and most of them want peace just as everybody else. He reiterated his opinion on the need for more transparency within the community.
He added mosques and other Muslim institutions were public institutions, implying they needed to be more open about what they really do.

However, Arif did agree it is difficult to convince people that Islam is a religion of peace, especially when frequent terror attacks are conducted in its name. But, the Imam felt this event, despite being horrendous, was a way he could preach about Islam’s true character.

He reaffirmed the statement by quoting a verse from the Quran which refers to the killing of an individual as an act that destroys the whole of humanity. He also cited the true meaning of Muslim meant “one who protects the right of others.”

UK’s largest Islamic body, The Muslim Council of Britain, sent out a letter condemning the recent terror attacks and even called all imams to refuse funeral rites for the individuals who carried out these attacks. The letter was signed by over 130 imams and several other leaders from various denominations within the community.

The funeral ritual is performed for all Muslims despite their actions. However, this might be one of the first cases of where the rites may be denied to a Muslim.

In the letter, the leaders state their prayers would be for God to judge the perpetrators in accordance with their actions. But, they also made it clear the perpetrators have no association with the larger Islamic community due to the fact they did not adhere to its basic principles concerning the “inviolability of every human life.”

Hope this becomes a global movement. Muslim leaders condemn terrorists https://t.co/sEftEI4pn4 @guardian #LondonBridge #isis #is @jk_rowling

— Bo Bradley (@Vitalbiz) June 5, 2017

Resources

• Huffington Post -London Bridge Attack Sees Muslim Community Leaders Condemn Rampage That Claimed Seven Lives
• Huffington Post -Over 100 British Muslim Leaders Refuse Funeral Prayers For London, Manchester Attackers
• The Muslim Council of Britian
• Evening Standard

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