Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 2013-09-24

The massacre of innocent civilians at the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi in Kenya has shocked the world. In response to the senseless killings, The United Ulama Council of South Africa (UUCSA) has released an official statement condemning the attack.

Below is the press release issued by UUCSA:

                                            Carnage in the Name of Religion
                                                      PRESS STATEMENT
                                                 (For Immediate Release)

The United Ulama Council of South Africa (UUCSA) condemns the massacre of innocent civilians at the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi. The barbaric slaughter of innocent human lives can never be condoned under any kind of religious pretext. This spurious religious validation of such murder can only be the work of grossly ignorant zealots. The Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen which has claimed responsibility is doing a great disservice to Islam and to Muslims.

The attacks will only serve to fuel instability in an already volatile region. It is our conviction that these kind of blood-letting acts of violence do not in any way advance the cause of Somalis as claimed by the Al Shabaab. The fact remains that Kenya itself is home to millions of Muslims of East Africa and it is preposterous to assume that Al Shabaab represents them.

Our thoughts are with the people of Kenya and the families of the victims killed. The physical and emotional trauma experienced by the families and friends of those affected is inestimable.

The situation calls for calm and restraint, it requires leaders from all faiths to unite and respond in a manner that will not advance the sectarian agenda of the perpetrators. We pray for the end of the siege without further loss of human life and that the perpetrators of this attack are brought to book to answer for their transgression.

Yusuf Patel
Secretary General
23 September 2013

Statement endorsed by all the members of the United Ulama Council of South Africa:
Muslim Judicial Council, Jamiatul Ulama KZN, Jamiatul Ulama South Africa, Sunni Ulama Council,
Sunni Jamiatul Ulama, Eastern Cape Ulama Council, Eastern Cape Islamic Congress