Rochdale Council of Mosques condemn attack on Peshawar School

Irfan Chishti MBE, spokesperson for the Council of Mosques

The past weeks have seen terrorist attacks both in Australia and Pakistan from people who claim to be Muslim and acting in the name of God. The Rochdale Council of Mosques (RCM) wholeheartedly condemns all acts of terrorism wherever they occur in the world. The attack in broad day light at the Army Public School and Degree College last Tuesday (16 December) left over 140 innocent lives for dead. At Friday prayers (20 December) across the towns 14 member mosques there were special prayers and recitals of the Holy Quran in memory of the tragic loss of life.

Imam Irfan Chishti MBE (spokesperson for the RCM) stated during his sermon that, “children are symbols of future and hope, to take so many children in one devastating attack was cruel beyond reason – but terrorism is designed to instil fear and take away our hope. For the sake of those who lost their lives, we must never fear such terrorism and we should certainly never lose hope.”

Eye-witness statements suggest that the murderers called out Islamic slogans during their heinous action and were thus motivated by the Islamic faith. We state clearly that this is nothing but a barbaric crime and cold blooded murder, infanticide committed in broad daylight, it has no basis in Islam and we condemn these actions unreservedly. Our thoughts are of course with the mothers of all the 132 children that gave up their lives whilst in education – a position that no doubt grants them the status of martyrdom (shaheed) in Islam.

These evil men cannot be allowed to use the sacred name of God – Allah and the peaceful religion of Islam to masquerade their barbaric behaviour. We hope and pray that the government of Pakistan do all that is in their power to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Chairman of the RCM, Tahir Mahmood said: "We are deeply saddened to hear the news of such innocent young loss of life.

"The actions of these men are in no way actions of Muslims and in no way reflective of our religion. We have constantly stated our condemnation of terrorist actions and we urge all our communities to remain vigilant.

"We want to see these evil men to be dealt with the full force of law.

May Allah – God Almighty give such people the greatest of punishment in this world and in the hereafter.

"May Allah – God Almighty help the families of all the victims through this difficult time.

Rochdale Council of Mosques