In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Praise be to Allah and prayers and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions

The Islamic world was shocked by the terrorist racist attack on Muslims praying in two mosques in New Zealand today, Friday, that caused the death of nearly fifty people including children.

The Syrian Islamic Council expresses its condolences to the families of the victims, their relatives and the entire Muslim community in New Zealand.  May God accept them as martyrs and heal the wounded and the injured.

The Syrian Islamic Council holds the sinner murderer directly responsible for his crime, and at the same time, holds responsible leaders who incite against Muslim communities in the West as well as some cultural and educational institutions and the Western media, which repeatedly publicize thoughts of anti-Muslim, hatred and Islamophobia as Islam is a religion of peace and tranquility.

Incidents of Muslim abuse in Western countries, in general, are on the rise. What happened today was not an isolated incident, it has rather occurred in the context of the systematic Intent for expulsion of Muslims and siege on Islam. The tool being used to this end is poisoning the popular culture and the social atmosphere there.

 Western governments are called upon to protect their Muslim residents and to take direct and decisive action to prevent the recurrence of such acts. The leaders of the Islamic world, in particular, and the whole world, in general, should condemn this action and take action at the level of international institutions to develop the necessary plans and legislation that help achieve co-existence and understanding of real Islam.

Praise be to Allah the Lord of the worlds.

Syrian Islamic Council
8 Rajab 1440 h (15 March 2019)