Federation Condemns Synagogue Attack
South Florida Muslim Federation Expresses Solidarity with Jewish Community After Deadly Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue Attack
(MIAMI, FL, 10/27/18) – The South Florida Muslim Federation – a conglomerate of nearly 30 South Florida Muslim organizations, schools and Islamic Centers – expresses heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the mass shooting that took place at the Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Jewish Synagogue. At least 11 Jewish worshipers were killed by an anti-Semitic attacker, and 6 other people wounded, including law enforcement agents. The Federation encourages the entire community – Muslim and non-Muslim – to repel evil with that which is better, by donating to a fund established by Muslims to help the injured victims and grieving families. Please visit www.launchgood.com/synagogue to make a contribution.
In a statement, South Florida Muslim Federation president Samir Kakli said:
“It is unthinkable that people attending a weekly religious service are ruthlessly fired upon and murdered. We stand with the Tree of Life Jewish community and all Jewish communities across the country in condemning this heinous crime. Anti-Semitism, as well as Islamophobia, has no place in this great country of ours. Unfortunately we are witnessing the normalization of hateful rhetoric against religious and ethnic minorities. It is essential that we work towards increased understanding of the diverse cultures and beliefs that make up the social fabric of American society.”
The South Florida Muslim Federation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. It is a conglomerate of multiple South Florida Muslim organizations, whose mission is “To be a resource sharing hub that connects, empowers and serves South Florida Muslim organizations.” For a list of South Florida Muslim Federation members, see www.soflomuslims.com/about.
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Contact:
Samir Kakli, President, South Florida Muslim Federation, info@soflomuslims.com
Wilfredo Amr Ruiz, Communications Director South Florida Muslim Federation, 305.502.6749
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Subhanallah, this was a horrible event. It needs to be condemned. No human being should have endure. However, I want to point out that the hate crime killing in Kentucky by Gregory Bush and the murder of James Leatherwood by Hollywood police are also horrible injustices. As Muslims we are commanded to stand up for injustice off all kinds. So I encourage this federation, if we are going to make statements of condemnation on injustices and unspeakable acts of violence, then we not pick and choose the ones we speak out againts. Particularly when we are not even addressing actions happening in our own backyard.
Hatred is a blind and lethal tool! If it is spread in any society, it will destroy it. If hatred is spread, everyone will find tons of reasons to harm everyone else including “own kind”, because hatred is blind. We are all different in so many ways and must take those differences as basis to complement each other and be at the need of each other, not to despise and destroy each other. I pray for all to see the beauty of diversity and utilize it to move the humanity forward.
This particular incident is indeed very regrettable but is hyped more than any such massacre like Black church bombing in S Carolina. Check editorial which appeared in today’s MSM including Washington Post that also has racist tones. We should refrain from such views.
“Political terrorism and sectarian bloodletting — these are the sorts of horrors that occur in the Balkans or the Middle East. Not here. Not in the land of the free. We’re better than this. We’re Americans.”