Savage shootings have tainted Islam, says Anwar

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim condemns the brutal shootings in Paris and says all forms of racial and religious fanaticism must be rejected.

PETALING JAYA: In a short but strongly worded statement today, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim called on all Muslim leaders as well as “ulama” to stand united in condemning the brutal shooting of 10 cartoonists and two policemen in Paris yesterday.

Saying, “I call on Muslim leaders and ulama in particular throughout the world to denounce these acts of terrorism in the strongest terms possible,” Anwar also said, “All right minded people regardless of religion or creed must categorically reject such acts of barbarism.”

He lamented that the terrorists’ savage act had tainted the name of Islam and done a disservice to other Muslims and pledged, “We must continuously battle not only the perpetrators of violence but also racial and religious intolerance and bigotry.”

In a separate statement, Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali also condemned the shootings which he described as “senseless and depraved” and said, “The culprits who committed these murders purportedly in the name of Islam are actually the enemies of Islam and must be swiftly brought to justice.”

Echoing the words of Anwar, Azmin added, “…we must stress that such acts of terrorism and sheer cruelty are completely unacceptable in Islam and we reiterate the paramount importance of justice and moderation and reject all forms of violence and fanaticism”.