A message of solidarity

Re: Synagogue gunman: ‘I just wanted to kill Jews’ — Oct. 29

As a Muslim, let me express my deepest sympathy and heartfelt sorrow to the family and friends of those killed in this weekend’s despicable synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, and may God grant a full and speedy recovery to the injured.

As a Muslim who still remembers the shooting in a mosque in Quebec that also killed innocent congregants, I know how jarring this incident must be to the wider community. No person should ever feel unsafe in their place of worship whether it be a mosque, synagogue, church, temple or wherever they gather in peace and prayer.

My first thought on seeing the news on TV was “Oh please don’t let the shooter be a person who has a Muslim name, or proclaim to be a Muslim.” This fear was soon addressed when the incident was being referred to as a “mass shooting” and then later in the day as a “hate crime.” No mention of it being an “act of terror,” which to my relief meant that there was no “Muslim” involved.

So despite the fact that, according to news reports, we now know the “shooter” harboured anti-Semitic views, which he apparently openly expressed on various social media platforms and shouted out “all Jews should be killed” as he was doing his shooting, and told police after his arrest that “he just wanted kill Jews,” it will not be called an “act of terror,” although I am sure the Jewish community in Pittsburgh felt terrorized by this horrible incident.

My message is that we should reach out to each other, stand with each other, regardless of our faith, and deny those leaders who wish to make us fear each other for their own short term “political” gain any success. This incident proves we will never know who the next target might be. Faheem Schroeder

Waterloo