Australian Muslim leaders condemn Paris shootings

Australian Muslim leaders have condemned the shootings in Paris and called for tolerance in the wake of tragedy.

Australian Muslim leaders have condemned an attack which killed 12 in France. (Getty)

• Full coverage: Charlie Hebdo attack
• Charlie Hebdo: A history of the French satire magazine
• In pictures: Rallies held across Europe for Charlie Hebdo shooting
• World leaders condemn Paris attack
• Cartoonists pay tribute to Charlie Hedbo

Muslim leaders in Australia have called for calm following a shooting massacre in Paris that left 12 people dead.

Two policeman and ten people associated with satirical magazine Charlie Hedbo were shot and killed after gunmen stormed the magazine's Paris office.

Two men suspected of carrying out the shooting have been identified as brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi.

Keysar Trad, spokesman for the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, said the shootings were contrary to the teachings of Islam.

"I can't find any justification in anything I've learnt in my religion. I've been practicing Islam for the last 50 years and there's no justification whatsoever. We can be offended by something but it does not justify resorting to violence just because we're offended."

"There's always some people who will be outside the mainstream and will think outside the mainstream. However, there's nothing in Islam that justifies any individual taking matters into their own hands. If they believe that something is in breach of the Islamic law or Islamic teachings, that's a matter for the courts, it's not a matter for the individual."

Mr Trad says their prophet, who is supposed to be their role model and example, would have acted very differently.

"He did not attack people who mocked him and critisise him. He did not ask for violence or cause any violence at people for merely ridiculing him or making fun of him."

"We don't condone any imagery of our religious figures, generally we don't use images of humans anyway. But the message in one of the cartoon was that extremists or violent people are dishonouring the prophet Muhammed."

"Well I agree that people who commit violence claiming some religious justification, they are dishonoring Islam, they are dishonouring the prophet, they are dishonoring the tradition of the prophet. So the underlying messages in some of the cartoon is correct. And to take offence to that extent is wrong."

The magazine in the past sparked controversy over cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad.