Muslims Condemn Mumbai Terror

More than 125 people have been killed in attacks on two luxurious hotels, a hospital, a railway station and a famous cafe frequented by foreign tourists. (Reuters)

"The whole Indian Muslim community is saddened by the terrorist attacks on Mumbai," the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, an umbrella of all Muslim organizations in India, said in a statement mailed to IslamOnline.net.
"Over a hundred precious lives have been lost and hundreds lie injured in various hospitals of the city."

More than 125 people have been killed in attacks on two luxurious hotels, a hospital, a railway station and a famous cafe frequented by foreign tourists.
The militants, armed with automatic weapons and grenades, opened fire indiscriminately and tossed grenades at people.

"We unconditionally and with all force at our command condemn this beastly act and consider it a crime of most serious nature," said the Muslim umbrella group.

"We demand that the perpetrators and planners must be caught and brought to justice at the earliest."

Indian police, who have so far killed four attackers and apprehended nine others, fought Thursday to end a multiple hostage crisis conducting floor-by-floor sweeps of the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels.

Gunfire continued to be heard from both hotels, where scores of guests, including Americans, French, Israelis and Canadians, remained trapped.

No Justification

Amid media reports that the attackers are Muslims, Indian Muslims said Islam forbids hostage-taking and civilian killing.

"Islam doesn't allow the killing of innocent people, irrespective of their religious affiliation," Sheikh Ahmed Bukhari, imam of the Jamia Mosque in New Delhi, told IOL.

Indian police say that no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

But Indian media said a previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen had claimed responsibility for the attacks in e-mails to several media outlets.

An Indian television quoted a militant holed up in a Jewish center as linking the attack to Indian persecution of Kashmiri Muslims.

"Are you aware how many people have been killed in Kashmir? Are you aware how your army has killed Muslims. Are you aware how many of them have been killed in Kashmir this week?" said the man identified as Imran.

Kashmir is divided into two parts and ruled by India and Pakistan, which have fought two of their three wars since the 1947 independence over the region.
Pakistan and the UN back the right of the Kashmir people for self-determination, an option opposed by New Delhi.

"Islam is against these attacks and this is the position of the wide Indian Muslims," Shahul Hameed, a Qatar-based Indian Muslim scholar, told IOL.
"Indian Muslims are of the view that those people who carried out the attacks should be punished," he stressed.

"Muslims have vehemently condemned any terrorist attack and this position was recently expressed during a huge meeting of Muslim scholars in Hyderabad."
Thousands of Muslim scholars from across India earlier this month denounced terrorism as a violation of Islamic teachings, stressing that Jihad can never be applied to terrorists acts.

Heinous

The heinous attacks drew equally condemnations from Muslims across the world.
"This is nothing but sheer terrorism," Mufti Mohammed Naeem, Principal of Jamia Binoria Karachi, told IOL.

"No Muslim or non-Muslim can support this heinous act.
"Islam gives an immense importance to a human life. It doesn't allow any group or individual to kill innocent Muslims or non-Muslims in retaliation," said the Pakistani scholar.

"No body knows who is responsible for these terrorist attacks, but whoever it is, is highly condemnable."

Australian Muslims also denounced the bombings.

"Attacks against innocent persons are abhorrent to all peaceful people and to all faiths and those who engage in this behavior stand condemned," the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils said in a statement.

"People of goodwill and faith must double their efforts and resources to fight against such acts of barbarism and inhumanity."
Britain's umbrella Muslim organization, the Muslim Council of Britain, emphasized the same message.

"The brutal murder of Indians and foreign nationals is unacceptable, there is no excuse for such acts, whatever the cause may be," MCB Chairman Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari said in a statement.

"I condemn this heinous act and extend my sympathies and condolences to the bereaved."
Across the Atlantic, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) lashed out at the attacks.

"Islam considers the use of terrorism to be unacceptable for any purpose."