THE Ahmadiyya Muslim Association at Stockleigh has joined with Muslim community leaders across the country in condemning the acts of the gunman who held up a Sydney cafe on Monday.
Man Haron Monis took customers and staff at the Lindt cafe at Martin Place hostage on Monday morning in a 16 hour siege that ended with two of the hostages killed, along with Mr Monis.
During the siege Mr Monis claimed it was an ISIS attack on Australia and made demands for an ISIS flag.
Imam Ahmed Nadeem said his community had been shaken by the tragedy, along with the rest of Australia.
"I'm shocked and strongly reject any atrocity on the lives of the innocent," he said.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent people involved and also with the families who saw this incredibly distressing situation unfold.
"From the depths of our hearts, we pray for the families of Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson, the two deceased hostages, the wounded and the other hostages."
Mr Nadeem said the Muslim community stood by the country's security agencies and supported their efforts in safeguarding its peace and security.
He said in no way did Islam support such acts, and Mr Monis was a disturbed man who had hijacked the religion to get attention.
"Islam actually teaches that to kill one person is as if you have killed the whole of humanity," Mr Nadeem said.
"The community is saddened by the situation and such atrocities leave us having to start from scratch.
"We try our best to make relations with the community, to promote peace and show the real face of Islam, and yet because of such actions we have to start all over again."
Ahmadiyya Muslim Association of Queensland secretary, Ehsan Alvi, said he was heartened by the show of support from the wider Australian public for the Muslim community.
"We all see this violence and stand together and condemn it very strongly," he said.
"Our message is very clear - love for all, hatred for none - and we feel compelled to do our bit and spread that message."
Mr Alvi said the mosque at Stockleigh was always open to anyone in the community to visit and find out more about it.
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