Fethullah Gülen strongly condemns US consulate attack, extends condolences

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has strongly condemned at attack on US Consulate in Benghazi that killed four Americans, including Libyan ambassador, and expressed deep condolences to the American people.


Fethullah Gulen

He said he was saddened to learn the death of Christopher Stevens and three other consulate workers and described the ambassador as “guest in Libya.” He said in a statement on Thursday that he strongly condemns the attack and curses “every kind of terrorism no matter who the perpetrators are.”

US Ambassador Christopher Stevens, another US diplomat and two State Department officers were killed on Tuesday in Libya when a mob of protestors and gunmen angered over a film that ridiculed the Prophet Muhammad attacked the consulate.

Recalling violent protests in Cairo and Sanaa, Gülen said lasting positive transformations could only be realized through peaceful approaches, which are also open to dialogue.

“Violence targeting innocent people in the name of protecting them is a betrayal to the spirit of Islam,” Gülen said, adding that the best way for Muslims to express their reaction is to protest with peace and calmness in line with the honor of their religion.

He expressed condolences to families of the victims in US consulate attacks, American people, and particularly US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Published on Today's Zaman, 13 September 2012, Thursday

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