ICCNC Statement About the NZ Terror Attack

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raji'un

“We surely belong to God and to Him we shall return.” Quran  2:156

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

As-salamu 'alaykum (with greetings of peace),

With heavy hearts, we mourn the 49 innocent Muslim worshipers killed and countless others injured, as a result of heavily armed white supremacists opening fire during Friday prayers at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.  Our prayers, solidarity, and support are with the survivors, families, and immediate community in Christchurch. These are indeed difficult and dangerous times for Muslims at a global level and other communities impacted by these cowardly and senseless acts of terrorism.
 
May God Almighty bless the souls of the deceased, grant patience and strength to their families and friends, and help the community cope with this senseless tragedy.
 
The prevalent rhetoric, including those from the highest levels of many governments around the world, has fueled and empowered the white supremacy and viciousness which this awful act is sadly but one example of. We must unite against this wave of violence and agitation – with all conscientious citizens taking a firm stand against such hatred, bigotry, militarism, and Islamophobia. We must do more to expose and combat white supremacy, violence, and those who empower it. 
 
We take this opportunity to thank the outpouring support received from other faith communities, our Oakland neighbors, and the citizens of the greater Bay Area during these difficult times.
 
Today, during the Friday congregational prayer at ICCNC and tomorrow, Saturday, March 16, 2019, during the Persian New Year event, we will pray for peace and compassion around the world and we stand in solidarity with the survivors of New Zealand's victims.
 
Our mosques have always been a place of peace and wisdom and we will not allow terrorists to usurp that from our communities.

ICCNC Board of Directors