Reprisal or revenge action is not part of Islam’s teachings and are not condoned, one local Muslim leader has said following yesterday’s terrorist attack in Holland which left three dead and five wounded.
“It’s very, very sad what’s happened in Holland as the world continues feeling the effects of the recent New Zealand attacks,” said Islamic Missionaries Guild (IMG) spokesman Imtiaz Mohammed.
Mohammed was commenting on yesterday’s rampage by a Turkish-born national in Utrecht, Holland. Shootings were reported on a tram.
On Saturday, Mohammed’s group held a memorial service for the 50 New Zealand victims.
He said if the Holland incident was suspected of being anything like a reprisal attack, it should not be condoned.
“We don’t condone reprisals. It’s not in Muslims’ teachings to react violently by hitting back or causing injury. In our teachings when a wrong is done, you don’t return it with wrong. The Federation of Muslims associations in New Zealand also called for people not to respond with reprisals when last week’s attack occurred,” he said.
On the effect on Muslim’s image following the Dutch attacks, Mohammed said, “You can’t control people who may be misguided. There may be a few or one or two who go ahead and proceed on their own path.”
Mohammed said some members of his group had attempted to go to New Zealand to offer condolence and support for the Muslim community there and possibly attend this week’s funerals. Bodies were expected to be released today or tomorrow “but visas take a month.”
“However, we’ll still go in the near future to pay our respects,” he said.
Yesterday, Dutch authorities arrested alleged shooter Gokmen Tanis, 37. BBC reported he had fought in Chechnya and jihadist groups including those aligned with the Islamic State (IS) had long operated in the region.
BBC quoted a Utrecht businessman who said Tanis was once arrested because of his Isis connections but later released.
T&T-born journalist Niala Maharaj who has lived in Holland for over 20 years told Guardian Media: “People here are completely in shock. Reports emerging on the gunman indicated he may be something of a bad seed - charges for rape and other matters. It’s very disturbing since there’s anti-immigrant and nationalist sentiment around and this may fuel it.”
The Holland attack came on the heels of last Friday’s mass murder of 50 Muslims in two mosques allegedly by Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28.
Foreign Affairs Ministry officials were checking whether any T&T national was injured or killed in the Holland attack and were also still following up on the New Zealand attack.
The two international attacks provide something of a backdrop for a meeting which National Security and other security officials are holding with local Muslim community members on Wednesday. The venue was initially Charlieville but Government sources indicate it is now being held at the Diplomatic Centre, St Anns and the Office of the Prime Minister is handling arrangements. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is expected to return from his recent health check on Tuesday.