Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – The head of the Union of Muslim scholars, Ahmed Al Raissouni, has said that Western countries bear responsibility for the New Zealand terrorist attack on two mosques.
In a statement to Al Jazeera, the Moroccan scholar condemned the attack which killed 50 worshippers.
The scholar added that Muslims face hostility in campaigns against Muslims and Islam.
“The movements behind [campaigns against Muslims] work in broad daylight,” Raissouni argued.
The scholar said that hostility against Muslims has moved beyond movements to national policies, which have put restrictions on Muslims.
Al Raissouni pointed out that France has closed a number of mosques and prevented others from opening across the country.
Reports of the French closures of several mosques spread widely on social media in February.
Al Bawaba reported that the French government closed seven mosques within one year, which led to harsh criticism from Muslims in France.
According to Al Raissouni, such decisions create extremists.
According to the scholar, some parties are “taking advantage of terror incidents committed by some Muslims to justify incitement against Muslim communities.”
Al Raissouni also commented on the lengthy manifesto published by the Australian terrorist who attacked the New Zealand mosques to justify his crime.
Read Also: Wydad Casablanca Fans Pay Tribute to Victims of New Zealand Terror Attack
Raissouni implied that the manifesto was an attempt to invoke “Crusade-era symbols.” He added that Muslims’ ability to integrate well into multiple countries is disturbing the extremists who want to “isolate” Muslims everywhere.
In the 74-manifesto, the terrorist cited Eurocentric sentiments as his motive.
The attacker expressed anti-immigrant views, implying that migrants with higher birth rates are displacing European populations.
In response to the attack, Al Raissouni urged for dialogue and “counter incitement” to “pressure parties that nurture extremism … to stop this hostile attitude against Muslims.”
World leaders condemned the attacks, which killed 50 and injured at least 50 more people.
King Mohammed VI emphasized that the attacks are a “flagrant violation of the sacredness of places of worship and the universal human values of coexistence, tolerance, and fraterbutt.”
