Muslims throughout the world strongly condemned Saturday the terrorist attacks in Paris, which left at least 129 people dead and hundreds wounded in a half-dozen coordinated shootings and explosions throughout the city.
The bloodshed was linked to Islamic extremists early on, following reports that the perpetrators had referred to French policy towards Muslims and screamed “Allahu Akbar” during the attacks. President François Hollande officially named ISIS as the group behind what he called an “act of war” just before noon local time.
Several Muslim religious and political leaders officially denounced the attacks before the group took responsibility, including Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, who called them a “crime against humanity,” and Qatari foreign minister Khaled al-Attiyah, who said they were “heinous.” Rouhani had been scheduled to visit France as part of a wider European trip this weekend but has postponed his plans.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, leader of the world’s most populous Muslim nation, said that”Indonesia condemns the violence that took place in Paris.”
More spirited responses came from ordinary people. On Twitter, many referred to the hashtag #TerrorismHasNoReligion, seeking divorce Islam from the dogma espoused by extremists.
https://twitter.com/HamdullahLehri/status/665373479680606208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I am an American Muslim and I apologize for the terrorist attacks in Paris. That is not Islam. ISLAM IS PEACE.
— Cait (@Hijabicait) November 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/The_7kr/status/665386701259464705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Agencies/Canadajournal