The Muslim Council of Elders under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Dr Ahmed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders strongly condemns the cowardly terrorist attack against Muslim worshippers at two mosques in the New Zealand City of Christchurch, which led to tens of casualties.

The Council reaffirms its complete rejection of such terrorism which targets innocent civilians and stresses the importance of countering terrorism in all its forms.

The Council also warns against the rise of Islamophobia and hate speech in western countries while calling on the international community to do everything in its powers to counter these criminal ideologies that are incompatible with religious and human values.

Likewise, the Muslim Council of Elders calls for the urgent spread of the values of coexistence, peace and the acceptance of others, pointing to the Human Fraternity Document which was signed by His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders and His Holiness Pope Francis earlier this year. This document has presented the most successful model to eradicate the abhorrent phenomenon of hate and other terrorist phenomena by dismantling misconceptions and spreading the values of tolerance and positive integration to achieve coexistence among all members of society.

The Muslim Council of Elders, which reiterates its condemnation of this cowardly act of terror, sends it utmost condolences to the families of all the victims, while praying to Almighty Allah to grant the befallen paradise. We also pray that the families of the befallen are also afforded patience and that the injured make a swift recovery.