Muslims 'shouldn't have to apologise for IS', says Hong Kong Islamic group leader, calling for solidarity from all faiths
Young leader calls for people of all faiths not to let terrorists divide us
Muslims should not be forced to condemn terrorist acts carried out in the name of Islam every time they happen, the founder of a new Islamic group in Hong Kong says.
"It's not fair that every time an [Islamic State] attack happens, Muslims are required to condemn and distance themselves from it," said the executive director of the Muslim Council of Hong Kong, Adeel Malik, 31.
"Just like we don't expect Christians to constantly condemn the acts of the terrorist group in central Africa, the Buddhists for what's happening in Burma and many other groups. "We feel we shouldn't always be expected to condemn acts when any rational human being will naturally be against any type of violence being done by anyone in any part of the world."
Malik registered the group as a company about three months ago. He said it was an independent body and not affiliated with the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong, the umbrella group of the city's six mosques.
Yesterday afternoon, Malik spent several hours in Tsim Sha Tsui handing out a "letter of peace" from the group wrote in response to last Friday's Paris terror attacks that killed 130 people.
The letter condemned the attacks, stating that: "We must not let these terrorists from any part of the world divide us. Let us not play into their evil narrative, and instead show them people of all faiths and backgrounds can live peacefully together."
The letter also raised concerns about the public's reaction to the Paris attacks.
"Basically, we want to take the opportunity to allow the public to know that we shouldn't be selective in our outrage," said Malik, who was born and raised in Hong Kong and works as a teacher.
"There were attacks in Lebanon, Iraq, Nigeria and the onslaught continued in Syria and Palestine, yet these attacks were not given as much coverage nor was much solidarity shown.
"Our message is that every innocent life should be valued and we shouldn't turn a blind eye to events that may have become a norm in certain countries."
However, the views of this new group appeared to have caused rifts within the Muslim community with concerns that it does not represent mainstream views. Qamar Minhas, chairman of the Incorporated Trustees, declined to comment on whether Malik's group indicated a split within the Muslim community.
"It is a separate organisation but I cannot say that we support or not support it. We always support good causes," he said.
"I cannot comment on [Malik's] view because his view is his view and these are the young people. But the Board of Trustees has been serving the Muslim community for 185 years. We've lived peacefully and our policy in the mosques is to give a message of peace. We have zero tolerance for any hatred speech in our mosques."
The organisation "represents all the Muslims of Hong Kong and we stand with the people of France", Minhas said.
"The group's letter seems OK but it is our duty to come out and stand with the people. One-hundred and thirty innocent people have been killed and I think it is our moral duty to show our solidarity with the people of France," he said.
"I think it is the right act that every human being - whether Muslim or not - should do. I believe we've done the right thing."
