COLOMBO : Joint Statement by the Federation of Kattankudy Mosques and Muslim Institutions (FKMMI) and All Ceylon Jammiyathul Ulama – Kattankudy Branch
“We are in great shock and heartbroken to hear about the heinous terror attack at the New Lynn mall of Countdown, West Auckland, New Zealand on 3rd September 2021 carried out by a Sri Lankan national and ISIS sympathizer stabbing several shoppers, injuring six, including three critically wounded. The New Zealand police had confirmed at he is shot dead at the very location.
We the Federation of Kattankudy Mosques and Muslim Institutions and All Ceylon Jammiyathul Ulama – Kattankudy Branch on behalf of the people of Kattankudy in particular and on behalf of all Muslims of Sri Lanka in general strongly condemn this hateful & senseless act of terrorism in the strongest possible terms. At the same time, we admire the moderate and sharp words expressed by Her Excellency Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern soon after the attack when Her Excellency officially stated, “the perpetrator alone bears responsibility for these acts. The attack was carried out by an individual, not a faith, ethnicity or culture”.
We coincide with the very point of view of her Excellency. Indeed, it was wrong, hateful despicable and violent extremism in any form should be rejected and must not be associated with any faith, ethnicity or religion. In this instance, we feel the pain of victims and our thoughts and hearts are with all affected by the attack and their families.
We had learned from many reports across the media and the local community level that the concerned terrorist and his family have left the home town of Kattankudy for whatsoever reasons spending most of their life for education, work and other purposes in general and the dead terrorist, in particular, was away from kattankudy local community since his early ages. At this background, as responsible Civil & Religions institutions we deplorably note that tarnishing the image of an ethnic community and a certain town is not acceptable any instances.However, while condemning his inhuman and barbarian act we the above said joint bodies on behalf of our local Muslim community offer support to those who were injured and stand with the Government and people of New Zealand in the fight against terrorism as well as with the leadership of our homeland Sri Lanka in combating the common enemy of violent and religious extremism and terrorism.”