Fethullah Gulen Condemns the Terrorist Attack in Lahore, Pakistan and Extends Condolences to Relatives of Victims

I have learned with grief about the horrible terrorist attack in Lahore, Pakistan that took 70 lives, majority of whom women and children, and injured over three hundred people on a children’s playground. I condemn this attack in the strongest terms and on this sad occasion I reiterate my condemnation of all forms of terror regardless of their perpetrators or their stated purposes.

Every human being is created with dignity by God Almighty and human life is sacred. Each terrorist attack is a murder; a violation of the sanctity of life and deserves nothing but unconditional condemnation in the strongest terms. This particular attack, because it targeted innocent women and children in a park is a cruel mass murder.

The possibility that the attack was aimed at members of Pakistan’s Christian minority celebrating Easter should alarm all Muslims and move them to become more sensitive about protecting religious minorities among them and take action toward that end.

Regardless of who claims ownership for the attack and their stated identity, they should be seen as monster-like beings that lost touch with their humanity.

I send my condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the attack, and to the people of Pakistan, starting with President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. May God the Most Compassionate grant patience to the relatives of those who lost their loves and heal the wounds of the injured.

Published on AfSV.org, 28 March 2016, Monday