Following the terrorist attacks in Paris Muslim leaders in Europe have issued the following statement:

“We the Muslim members of the European Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace (ECRL) are filled with sorrow and grief for the loss of life and injury to hundreds in the Paris terrorist attacks.

We grieve also for the loss of lives in Afghanistan, Algeria, Australia, Britain, Central African Republic, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Myanmar, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, U.S.A., Yemen, and every other city and country blighted by the scourge of terrorism, violence and war; past and present.

We utterly condemn these attacks and the terrorists who carried out this heinous barbarity. They claim to have done it in the name of God – far from it. Their work is the work of satan. Islam does not allow, teach, promote or inspire terrorism. It calls on Muslims to live in peace and harmony showing compassion and care for all.

We appeal to the people of France to stand in solidarity with their fellow Muslim citizens and not allow any division to take root.

We call on French Muslims to remain united and steadfast in their condemnation of terrorism and to remain vigilant against those who seek to promote violent extremism. We pray to God to heal the pain and ease the suffering of all people, amin.

The Muslim Members of ECRL:

H.E. Dr. Mehmet Gormez – Turkey
Dr. Mustafa Ceric Bosnia – Herzegovina Dr. Mohamed Bechari – France
Ms Mehrhezia Labidi Maiza – France Imam Yahya Pallavicini – Italy
Mufti Farid Salman – Russia
Grand Mufti Nedzad Grabus – Slovenia Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra – Great Britain 

The European Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace (ECRL) brings together senior religious leaders from Europe’s historical religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam together with Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs
and Zoroastrians. ECRL has participatory status with the Council of Europe. ECRL is one of five regional Interreligious Councils with the Religions for Peace network.

Religions for Peace – accredited to the United Nations – is the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace since 1970.