Terror goes against core of Islam: leaders

Faith and community leaders have come together to condemn the most recent attack in London and to tell terrorists their actions go against the core of Islam.

Faith and community leaders have come together to condemn the London Bridge attack and to tell terrorists their actions go against the core teachings of Islam.

A panel of speakers at the East London Mosque said they will continue to work to counteract terrorists' "twisted narrative and their perversion" of the religion.

It came as 130 imams and religious leaders from diverse backgrounds refused to perform the traditional Islamic prayer for the attackers - a ritual that is normally performed for every Muslim regardless of their actions.

"Consequently, and in light of other such ethical principles which are quintessential to Islam, we will not perform the traditional Islamic funeral prayer over the perpetrators and we also urge fellow imams and religious authorities to withdraw such a privilege," they said in a statement.

"This is because such indefensible actions are completely at odds with the lofty teachings of Islam."

Sufia Alam, manager of the Maryam Centre, said the organisation has already had reports of Muslim women being verbally abused on buses.

"We urge all our Muslim women attending the workplace and religious places to report any kind of hate crime they may face," she said.

Commander Mak Chishty from the Metropolitan Police read out a statement on behalf of the capital's Muslim community.

"This terrorist attack is an attack on all communities, including Muslim communities," it read.

"Every time a terrorist attack takes place Muslim communities either face or fear a backlash against them.

"The Muslim community appeals to all sections within their own communities to root out the scourge of terrorism which hides amongst their own people and masquerades as Islam.

"The Muslim community is alarmed and concerned that this attack by three people ... would have required planning and yet was not reported.

"It is the Islamic duty of every Muslim to be loyal to the country in which they live and we are now asking questions - to understand how extremism and hatred has taken hold within some elements of our own communities.

"Terrorism and extremism is hurting Islam. Muslims must do more to stop such attacks from happening again and we want to know how we can play a greater role in the future."


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3 min read

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Source: AAP



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