Muslim leaders and equality groups have called for unity following Thursday's explosion in Exeter city centre with many Muslims attending Friday prayers at Exeter Mosque and Cultural Centre, in York Road at Friday prayers spoke of their shock at what had happened.
Religious leader Mohammed Abrar, speaking on behalf of the trustees of the Islamic Centre of the South West, said:
"Islam abhors all acts of terrorism. Islam and all religions teach us love, mercy, forgiveness and peace.
"There is no doubt that any act of terror is a great sin in the eyes of God. In fact, such evil deeds make us all victims, including the Muslim community.
"It is our humanity that must bring us together to condemn, oppose, and overcome those who would spread fear."
Mr Abrar said he and the trustees extended their thanks to the emergency services for conducting an efficient and effective operation.
He added: "Those who planned suspected acts of terrorism wanted to demoralise us as a nation and divide us as a people. We must remain united in our common determination, so that terror cannot and will not succeed."
Abid Mohammed, 42, of Okehampton Road who converted to Islam in 2004.
He said: "At Exeter Mosque we teach people to care for and love one another, not to hurt people."
Theeb Aldrossy, 29, a student at Exeter University, said he hoped there would be no backlash against the Muslim community.
"The people of Exeter are lovely," he said. "They respect us and we respect them."
Nazrul Islam, 30, said:
"Islam is a religion about peace. I come to the mosque every Friday and we are always taught to be safe, to look after everyone and everything. This gives a bad impression of Muslims, but you cannot put all people into one box. Just because one Muslim is doing something does not mean others will follow."
David Wright, a spokesman for the Olive Tree Association, which provides help and support for ethnic minorities, said he hoped the community of Exeter would come together in defiance of terrorism rather than letting fear divide groups.
"We should be learning more about each other in order to understand different cultures," he said. "That happens all the time in schools and community centres with people working together, but what scares me is that can all be undone.
"When something like this happens there is often a backlash. You get Islamaphobia, you get people assuming that any Muslim or anyone with different colour skin is somehow implicated or a suspect. That is completely daft and wrong."
Linda Ramdeen, operational director of Devon Equality Council, said she had heard of at least two instances of Muslim people being verbally abused in the street since the explosion in Exeter on Thursday.
"There will be an impact," she said. "But there's a lot of love around. I have faith in people that they won't allow this to put the agenda back and let it affect the next generation. I hope we can move on from this."
Religious leader Mohammed Abrar, speaking on behalf of the trustees of the Islamic Centre of the South West, said:
"Islam abhors all acts of terrorism. Islam and all religions teach us love, mercy, forgiveness and peace.
"There is no doubt that any act of terror is a great sin in the eyes of God. In fact, such evil deeds make us all victims, including the Muslim community.
"It is our humanity that must bring us together to condemn, oppose, and overcome those who would spread fear."
Mr Abrar said he and the trustees extended their thanks to the emergency services for conducting an efficient and effective operation.
He added: "Those who planned suspected acts of terrorism wanted to demoralise us as a nation and divide us as a people. We must remain united in our common determination, so that terror cannot and will not succeed."
Abid Mohammed, 42, of Okehampton Road who converted to Islam in 2004.
He said: "At Exeter Mosque we teach people to care for and love one another, not to hurt people."
Theeb Aldrossy, 29, a student at Exeter University, said he hoped there would be no backlash against the Muslim community.
"The people of Exeter are lovely," he said. "They respect us and we respect them."
Nazrul Islam, 30, said:
"Islam is a religion about peace. I come to the mosque every Friday and we are always taught to be safe, to look after everyone and everything. This gives a bad impression of Muslims, but you cannot put all people into one box. Just because one Muslim is doing something does not mean others will follow."
David Wright, a spokesman for the Olive Tree Association, which provides help and support for ethnic minorities, said he hoped the community of Exeter would come together in defiance of terrorism rather than letting fear divide groups.
"We should be learning more about each other in order to understand different cultures," he said. "That happens all the time in schools and community centres with people working together, but what scares me is that can all be undone.
"When something like this happens there is often a backlash. You get Islamaphobia, you get people assuming that any Muslim or anyone with different colour skin is somehow implicated or a suspect. That is completely daft and wrong."
Linda Ramdeen, operational director of Devon Equality Council, said she had heard of at least two instances of Muslim people being verbally abused in the street since the explosion in Exeter on Thursday.
"There will be an impact," she said. "But there's a lot of love around. I have faith in people that they won't allow this to put the agenda back and let it affect the next generation. I hope we can move on from this."
-
-
-
-
- ASUK999
- added this
- added May 25, 2008
- flag
Login/Registration is required to add a response
