The Galway Ahmadiyya Muslim community has condemned last weekend's terrorist attacks in Paris, describing the shootings and bombings that left 129 dead, as "barbaric" and "unprecedented".
In a statement, the Galway Ahmadiyya Muslim community said: "We send our deepest, condolences to the people and government of France. The victims of these barbaric attacks, their families, and the French nation are in the prayers of the members of the community. These unprecedented attacks, targeting innocent people, are against everything we stand for, shoulder to shoulder with others, in the civilized world."
During the weekend, young people from the Ahmadiyya Muslim youth presented flowers to Catherine Gagneux, the French Honorary Consul for Galway, to express their "outrage over the brutal killings of innocent people".
The leader of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahamd, in a message stated: “On behalf of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community worldwide, I express my heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the French nation, its people, and government following the heinous terrorist attacks that have taken place in Paris. This brutal and inhumane attack can only be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
"I would also like to reiterate that all forms of terrorism and extremism are completely against the true teachings of Islam. The Holy Qur'an has said that to kill even one innocent person is akin to killing all of mankind. Thus under no circumstances can murder ever be justified and those who seek to justify their hateful acts in the name of Islam are serving only to defame it in the worst possible way.
"Our sympathies and prayers are with the victims of these attacks and all those who have been left bereaved or affected in any way. May God Almighty grant patience to them all and I hope and pray the perpetrators of this evil act are swiftly brought to justice”.
Red, white, and blue lights, to represent the French Tricolore, were shone on to public buildings in Galway, such as the Cathedral and NUI Galway. In a further act of solidarity, the Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Frank Fahy will open a Book of Condolences at City Hall, at 10am this morning. The opening will also be attended by Mme Gagneux.
