Imam Talib Shareef, leader of The Nation’s Mosque, Masjid Muhammad, the oldest Muslim community located in the capital of America dating back to the mid 1930s, released the following statement in response to the recent attacks in Paris.  

We join our President and all right-minded people around the world who are offering condolences and prayers from the deepest place in their hearts and souls for the people of France and the families of the innocent lives taken by yet another atrocious, senseless act of violence.

We strongly condemn this terrorist attack in France and any of such attacks anywhere in the world. We continue to be shocked and pained by these futile, savage attacks against humanity and they must be stopped.

While ISIL has claimed responsibility, our position is that it doesn’t matter who the attackers are or what they claim, their actions are criminal, inhumane, and are an outright betrayal of and not condoned by Islam, Christianity, Judaism or any of the other beautiful faith communities.  Any person or group, no matter how desperate their situation, no matter how much their hearts are paining because of wrong that has been done to them, or no matter what their cause, there is no justification for them to murder and make helpless, vulnerable, or innocent humans the target of their hate or their inhumane actions.  

We ask the people of France and the world to not reciprocate their hate or their actions but rather seek justice against those responsible.  We call upon all religious leaders to maximize their Faith’s teachings of love, mercy, compassion, peace, universal brotherhood and concern for humanity and human life.  The Almighty is merciful and has placed more good and love in the world than not, together, united upon that inherent goodness and love we can reduce these small worlds of hate and evil.  We have a responsibility to exhibit the best of our human and religious identity, by following the examples of Prophets Muhammad, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, etc, (Peace be upon all of them).