The Muslim Community in Malta this evening expressed “shock, sorrow and grave concern” at the recent series of terroristic acts in several countries including France, Germany and the United States. It said it was also shocked at the “heinous coward crime” of killing the French priest Fr Jacques Hamel.

“Those horrible acts were falsely proclaimed in the name of Islam and Muslims, while Islam prohibits and condemns the killing of innocent people irrespective of their faith or alleged justifications for such criminal acts.

“The aggression against the European people is an aggression against all Muslims who live in Europe and a serious threat to their harmonious peaceful existence in different European countries,” the community said.

In a statement signed by Imam Mohammed Elsadi, the community said terror had no religion and no borders.

“It has no justification and it doesn’t serve any just cause… Terrorists are, first and foremost, the enemy of Islam and Muslims because they abuse the Muslim faith, tarnish the true image of Islam, destruct the reputation of Muslims all over the world and endanger Muslim existence everywhere.”

It said that through their savage evil crimes, terrorists exposed Muslims, especially minorities, to hatred, discriminations and sufferings.

It called on the International Community to join hands against ISIS (Daesh) and all other terrorists who endangered world peace and stability. 

“While the Muslim community affirms that Isis and other terrorists are the common enemies of humanity and they target Muslims and non-Muslims, it believes that those who exercise hatred and intolerance towards peaceful Muslims because of terrorism are doing injustice to themselves and to the Muslims who are themselves victims of terrorism.

“Those who hurt innocent Muslims because of terrorism are playing into the hands of terrorists and contribute in materialising their wicked goals to create chaos and instability in the world and cause conflicts and wars among religions and nations.”