Several prominent Muslims have publicly condemned the grisly attack on a Church in France in which Islamist terrorists killed Fr. Jacques Hamel by slitting his throat.
The attack by the Islamic State militants has been denounced by figures all around the world, includingthe Grand Imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayyeb.
"The attackers were completely detached from all humanitarian values and moderate Islamic teachings which call for peace and for the protection of human lives without discrimination because religion, gender or race," El-Tayyeb said in a statement, also urging for collaboration against terrorism.
Two armed men, one of which has been identified as 19-year-old Adel Kermiche, who was under close surveillance after two failed attempts to reach Syria last year, took several people hostage at the Sainte Therese Church while reportedly shouted "Allahu akbar" before being were killed by the police.
In a statement to theWashington Post, Mohammed Karabila, President of the Regional Council of the Muslim Faith for Haute-Normandie, termed the attack as an odious act, while the VP of Imams of France, Hocine Drouiche, labelled Islamism the "disease of the century."
Muslim leaders across Europe have joined hands with Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, in a protest to the attack. A statement with a prayer was signed by those, including Sheikh Mohammed Al-Hilli, Director of the Noor Trust; Imam Qari Muhammad Asim, Head Imam at Mecca Mosque and Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra, Co-Chair of the Christian-Muslim Forum.
"We are deeply saddened and shocked by the brutal murder. To commit murder at a place where people gather in peace to worship adds another layer of depravity to the violence that we have witnessed over the past weeks," Cardinal Nichols stated.
"We pray for the courage to respond to all evil with truth, justice, and reconciliation."