- Title: "We should say sorry" for Paris attacks - Muslim leader in Spain
- Date: 20th November 2015
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (NOVEMBER 20, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF MADRID'S LARGEST MOSQUE, KNOWN AS THE "ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTRE OF THE M-30" MOSQUE ENTRANCE/PEOPLE ARRIVING FOR FRIDAY PRAYERS SIGN READING (Spanish and Arabic): "ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTRE OF MADRID" MUSLIM WOMAN TALKING TO POLICE EXTERIOR OF MOSQUE/SIGN, READING (Spanish): "ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTRE" VARIOUS OF DIRECTOR OF MADRID'S ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTRE, SAMI EL-MUSHTAWI, AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DIRECTOR OF MADRID'S ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTRE, SAMI EL-MUSHTAWI, SAYING: "I ask Europe for forgiveness. Forgiveness for the acts of individuals who don't know what Islam is about. People who have never listened to or recited the Koranic verse which says 'Mohammad we have sent you mercy for humanity'. Forgiveness for these individual terrorist, fanatic, extremist acts in which we, as Muslims, have nothing to do but still we should say sorry because, in one way or another, they say they are Muslims but they don't understand Islam." MUSHTAWI AT NEWS CONFERENCE MEN ARRIVING AT MOSQUE AND TAKING SHOES OFF MEN ENTERING MOSQUE BEFORE WEEKLY SERVICE VARIOUS OF MEN PRAYING IN SILENCE BEFORE SERVICE IMAM HUSSAM KHOJA AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) IMAM, HUSSAM KHOJA, SAYING: "They call themselves khalifas (Islamic stewards) and take 'bloodshed for Muslims and non-Muslims' as their slogan. These groups, Daesh (Islamic State) among them, are unfair and corrupt groups. They cause bloodshed and misinterpret the Koran and the Sunnah verses. Their methods are corrupt and they walk on a dark path." VARIOUS OF MUSLIM MEN ATTENDING WEEKLY SERVICE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEMBER OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN MADRID, ABDERAMAN KHALDOUNE, SAYING: "These people are not Muslims. These people are just crazy. Islam is not like this. Islam is not meant to hurt anybody, Islam doesn't steal anything, doesn't kill people. These people are not Muslims, they are crazy people." POLICE OUTSIDE MOSQUE
- Embargoed: 5th December 2015 18:48
- Keywords: Paris attacks Islam Muslim Spain Madrid religion
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Bombing (non-military),Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0013A7ZL1J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The head of Madrid's Islamic Cultural Centre on Friday (November 20) asked for forgiveness, following last week's attacks in Paris which left 130 dead.
"I ask Europe for forgiveness. Forgiveness for the acts of individuals who don't know what Islam is about. People who have never listened to or recited the Koranic verse which says 'Mohammad we have sent you mercy for humanity'. Forgiveness for these individual terrorist, fanatic, extremist acts in which we, as Muslims, have nothing to do but still we should say sorry because, in one way or another, they say they are Muslims but they don't understand Islam," said Sami el-Mushtawi at a news conference.
Mushtawi's statement followed Friday prayers at Madrid's largest mosque, known as the "M-30," where Imam Hussam Khoja delivered a sermon condemning the perpetrators of the Paris assault.
"They call themselves khalifas (Islamic stewards) and take 'bloodshed for Muslims and non-Muslims' as their slogan. These groups, Daesh (Islamic State) among them, are unfair and corrupt groups. They cause bloodshed and misinterpret the Koran and the Sunnah verses. Their methods are corrupt and they walk on a dark path," he said.
Spain has arrested dozens of people this year in relation to Islamist militant activities, and is working to prevent radicalised young Muslims joining armed groups in Iraq or Syria or attacking targets at home.
One Moroccan, who has lived in the Spanish capital for eleven years said the Paris attackers had no understanding of the religion.
"These people are not Muslims. These people are just crazy. Islam is not like this. Islam is not meant to hurt anybody, Islam doesn't steal anything, doesn't kill people. These people are not Muslims, they are crazy people," said Abderaman Khaldoune.
By the end of September, Spain had been involved in the arrest of 71 suspected Islamic militants at home and abroad, up from 46 in the whole of 2014, according to interior ministry figures. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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