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Pearl Institute Strongly Condemns attacks in Brussel, Pakistan and Somalia

Fethullah Gulen’s Comdemnations for Terror around the Globe

Posted on 4/4/2016

Fethullah Gulen

DETAILS

Fethullah Gulen Condemns Brussels Terrorist Attacks

March 24, 2016 – I strongly condemn the brutal terrorist attacks at the Brussels International Airport and Metro station on March 22 that resulted in the deaths of more than 30 people and the injuries of hundreds.

Regardless of the perpetrators and their stated purposes, every terrorist attack is a murder and an attack on the sanctity of life itself, and deserves condemnation in the strongest terms. Neither a religion nor any human being with a conscience can condone such cruelty.

Those who carry out such attacks and who support the perpetrators are oblivious to the ethos of the religion that they proclaim, and inflict the biggest damage to the religion’s reputation in the world. Those who consciously perpetrate such acts have lost touch with their very humanity, and do not represent any religious identity.

In addition to the intelligence and security measures taken to prevent individual terrorist attacks, there is a pressing need for cooperation between states and civil society groups to eliminate swamp-like environments and conditions that facilitate recruitment by terrorist groups.

I am confident that leaders in countries with strong democratic and legal foundations, like Belgium, will act with prudence to develop lasting solutions that incorporate their Muslim citizens and avoid feeding into the hateful rhetoric of terrorist groups.

These heinous terrorist attacks have been inflicted not only on the Belgian people but also on the solidarity of humanity and universal human values. I send my deepest condolences to the relatives and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and the people of Belgium. I pray for the fast recovery of the wounded.

On this occasion I also send my condolences and prayers to the citizens of all countries, including my home land of Turkey, who lost their loved ones in recent terrorist attacks.

I pray to God, the Most Graceful, the Compassionate, to save humanity from the scourge of terrorism and spread an atmosphere around the world where people empathically embrace each other.


 

Fethullah Gulen Condemns the Terrorist Attack in Lahore, Pakistan and Extends Condolences to Relatives of Victims

I have learned with grief about the horrible terrorist attack in Lahore, Pakistan that took 70 lives, majority of whom women and children, and injured over three hundred people on a children’s playground. I condemn this attack in the strongest terms and on this sad occasion I reiterate my condemnation of all forms of terror regardless of their perpetrators or their stated purposes.

Every human being is created with dignity by God Almighty and human life is sacred. Each terrorist attack is a murder; a violation of the sanctity of life and deserves nothing but unconditional condemnation in the strongest terms. This particular attack, because it targeted innocent women and children in a park is a cruel mass murder.

The possibility that the attack was aimed at members of Pakistan’s Christian minority celebrating Easter should alarm all Muslims and move them to become more sensitive about protecting religious minorities among them and take action toward that end.

Regardless of who claims ownership for the attack and their stated identity, they should be seen as monster-like beings that lost touch with their humanity.

I send my condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the attack, and to the people of Pakistan, starting with President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. May God the Most Compassionate grant patience to the relatives of those who lost their loves and heal the wounds of the injured.


 

Condemnation and condolence message on occasion of the terror attack against a school bus in Mogadishu, Somalia

The terror attack in Somalia’s city of Mogadishu on a school bus, which resulted in the loss of five beautiful friends and the injuries of others, among whom were school-aged children, has once again wrenched our hearts already wounded by recent tragedies.

The targeting of teachers who immigrated to provide education services to the Somalia people, their Somalia colleagues, and students, by terrorist groups is deplorable.

I condemn this attack in the strongest terms, its perpetrators, and all forms of terror.

I pray that God, the most Compassionate bestow His mercy on my teacher brothers and sisters, Hıdır Çalka and Kemale İsmailov, and their Somalia colleagues İsa Hacı, Amr Omar Salim, and Mohamed Ahmed Arale—all of whom I believe had pure hearts, and tongues that were a loyal interpreter of their inner depths.

I pray that God the Merciful refreshes them with the shade of reunion in the afterlife, compliments them as He would do for special guests, and crowns these graces with His satisfaction.

I wish the parents, spouses, children, relatives, and loved ones of our brothers and sisters patience and fortitude, and speedy recovery to the wounded.

I send my condolences to the people of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Somalia who have lost their citizens in this tragic event.

M. Fethullah Gülen

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