(Overland Park, KS, 4/21/19) -- The Crescent Peace Society (CPS), a Kansas City area interfaith organization, today condemned a series of coordinated bombings targeting churches and hotels in Sri Lanka. The attacks targeted foreign tourists and Easter worshippers celebrating the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus. At least 207 are dead and hundreds more were injured in the blasts.

“Kansas City area Muslims condemn this horrific attack on our Christian brothers and sisters and so many of us are utterly sick reading the news this morning,” said CPS President Ahsan Latif. “Although at the time of this writing no group has claimed responsibility, we are still dismayed by this evil act committed by criminals who target Christians in countries where they are a religious minority. We want to be clear that these individuals do not speak for the millions of Muslims in the United States and around the world.

In Islam, the protection of places of worship, specifically Christian places of worship, was pledged by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Covenant of Muhammad, which commemorated an agreement between him and the Christian monks of Saint Catherine’s Monastery. The document, which granted protection “to the followers of Jesus of Nazarene in the East and West,” including the followings stipulation:

“No one is allowed to plunder these Christians, or destroy or spoil any of their churches, or houses of worship, or take any of the things contained within these houses and bring it to the houses of Islam. And he who takes away anything therefrom, will be one who has corrupted the oath of God, and, in truth, disobeyed His Messenger.”

“Jesus is a figure of enormous importance to all Muslims. His birth to Mary was one of God’s most magnificent miracles. In the Quran, Islam’s revealed text, Jesus is repeatedly referred to as the Messiah of God and one of the closest figures to the Almighty,” said Latif. “These terrorists attempted to sow hatred between our communities by attacking those who celebrate Jesus. But they have only debased themselves and made martyrs of these peaceful worshippers.”

The Crescent Peace Society is a Kansas City area interfaith organization seeking to enhance the understanding of Muslim cultures through educational and cultural activities involving the exchange of ideas and experiences among people of diverse cultures. Its mission is to build bridges among faith communities, encourage dialogue, and promote justice and mutual understanding.
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If there are groups interested in having a Muslim speaker meet with their congregation or organization regarding Muslims in America or Islam, they should email us at: crescentpeacesociety@gmail.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ahsan Latif, President, 913-485-9218, latif.ahsan@gmail.com, Hibba Haider, Vice President, 816-309-8065, hibbahaider@gmail.com, and Advisory Board Member Mahnaz Shabbir, 816-213-2536 and mahnaz@shabbiradvisors.com