Dhaka, Bangladesh - With the strongest possible language I condemn the brutal and inhuman activities of the perpetrators of the terror attacks of Jan. 7 and Jan. 9, 2015, in Paris, France, who claim to be Muslims. But far from being Muslims, they cannot be called even rational human beings. Terrorists are terrorists; they do not belong to any religion. They are not Muslims because they violated the teachings of Islam. Once the Prophet Muhammad was asked: "Who is a Muslim?" His answer was: "[The person] from whose hands and tongue everybody is safe."
These attacks in Paris are against the teachings of the Holy Qur'an, in which it is categorically stated: "Whosoever kills a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind.” (Al- Qur'an: 32). Through their inhuman activities the terrorists have betrayed and tainted Islam instead of defending it. They have damaged the true image of Islam and have proved themselves to be the worst enemies not only of Islam but also of the whole of humankind.
They have a false excuse, and that is: those journalists insulted the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). But they must know that for this reason no Muslim is allowed to kill them. The most appropriate response to this is through "thought, art and creating public opinion and refuting this attitude through the teachings and the dealings of the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and definitely not through terror and murder." What they have done is nothing but showing total disrespect to the Prophet (peace be upon him), and this is a sheer insult to his philosophy of love and peace. They should have known the teaching of the Qur'an that categorically states: "And We have sent you (Oh Muhammad) not but as a mercy to all the worlds." (Q.21:107)
Today I would like to urge all people of conscience, all over the world, to condemn these incidents and any such incidents anywhere in the world with the strongest possible words.
Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam
Secretary general, UPF-Bangladesh
Professor and director, Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh