Standing with victims in New Zealand

We mourn the deaths of 50 worshipers gunned down in terror attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, during prayers on Friday, We strongly condemn the apparent anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant hate that motivated the attacks and urged mosques in the United States and worldwide to step up security measures.

This was a despicable act of Terrorism that should be condemned in the strongest terms. To target innocent men, women and even children based upon their religion and ethnicity is deplorable.

The man who claimed responsibility for the attacks left a 74-page anti-immigrant manifesto in which he said he was a 28-year-old white Australia.

Both the 74-page manifesto of the Christchurch terrorist and the 1,500page manifesto of Anders Breivik, the Norway killer who murdered 70 young people are inspired by and quote Islamophobes in the USA.

This hatred is no different than that which led to attacks on the Jewish community in Pittsburgh last October, Parkland and the black churches by white supremacists.

We ask that all local, state and national USA leaders as well as the common people join us in the healing which requires prayers and the mutual teachings of truth, love and, patience.

May Allah keep our community, neighbors of other faith and our houses of worship safe. May He heal us of hate and bigotry. May He guide the misguided. May He bring justice and the best outcome out of this situation. And may He comfort the families and loved ones of those who were killed.

— Imam Qareeb A. Bashir, President,

Islamic Council of Greater Trenton