“I was literally horrified and shocked. It was beyond disbelief to see such carnage and killing of the innocents,” he said. “So the first reaction was not only to be horrified and shocked, but also our hearts went out to the innocents — people who died and their families.”
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| Farhan Khokhar, vice president, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Canada |
Source/Credit: The Star | Excerpt
By Sean Wetselaar, Jackie Hong | January 7, 2015
Prominent members of the Toronto Muslim community speak out on the mass shooting at a French magazine in Paris
In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris, members of Toronto’s Muslim community are speaking out.
The attack occurred shortly before noon on Wednesday when heavily armed men in black military fatigues stormed the French satirical magazine’s offices, killing 12 people and injuring 11 others.
Three people have been identified as suspects by French police officials. Frenchmen Said Kouachi and Cherif Kouachi, who are both in their early 30s and 18-year-old Hamyd Mourad, whose nationality is currently not clear.
The suspects brandished a variety of weapons in the attacks including Kalashnikovs, and were heard shouting, “Allhu akbar!” – which is Arabic for “God is great” – as they entered the offices.
Meanwhile, prominent members of Muslim communities in Toronto are condemning the violence.
...
Farhan Khokhar, vice president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Canada saw the news early Wednesday morning when he rose for morning prayers.
“I was literally horrified and shocked. It was beyond disbelief to see such carnage and killing of the innocents,” he said. “So the first reaction was not only to be horrified and shocked, but also our hearts went out to the innocents — people who died and their families.”
Khokhar said there have been three main responses from members of the community.
“One is the general response I mentioned, because loss of innocent life is always tragic,” he said. “[And it] always brings tears to people’s eyes. Just as you’re starting the New Year, this is not how you want to start the New Year. So that’s the first reaction.
“The second part of the reaction is that we do have a large Ahmadiyya Muslim community in France as well. To see the Muslims being associated with such horrendous attacks not only deeply saddened us but also goes to show how people have taken the name of a peaceful religion for their nefarious purposes.
"The third part is more of anger, in the sense that we want every perpetrator not only to be caught as quickly as possible, but that the full force of law should be laid against these people. Not only those that perpetrated the act, but people behind them as well, or people who supported them."
Read original post here: Canada: Toronto Muslims weigh in on Paris shootings
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I think the picture should be relevant to the news. With Paris new the picture looks like that the person is laughing at instead of being in shock.
ReplyDeleteConsideration will be appreciated.