Local groups report no trouble thus far for the city’s 300,000 Muslims
JASMINE SIU AND CHRISTY LEUNG
PUBLISHED : Monday, 16 November, 2015, 3:23pm
UPDATED : Monday, 16 November, 2015, 3:23pm
Qamar Zaman Minhas (right) with Muhammad Arshad, the city’s chief imam, at the Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: David Wong
Hong Kong’s Muslim community today strongly condemned the terrorist attacks that took at least 129 lives in Paris last Friday, expressed their shock and sadness at the brutality.
In a letter this morning to French consul general Eric Berti, Qamar Zaman Minhas, chairman of the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong, the city’s main body representing the Muslim community, expressed “shock and sadness over the brutal terrorist attacks in Paris”.
Minhas wrote: “Muslims all over the world especially the Muslim Community of Hong Kong strongly condemn these inhuman acts of violence which are against the teachings of Islam.
READ MORE: ‘It was like 9/11’: Travellers arriving in Hong Kong from Paris tell of horror at attacks
“We stand together with the people of France in their hour of grief and convey our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.
“May Allah Almighty give courage and strength to the bereaved families and people of France to recover from this national tragedy. Aameen. Please convey our condolence to the Government of France.”
The letter followed a French-language statement issued by the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria last week, claiming responsibility for orchestrating six coordinated attacks across Paris last Friday.
Ebrahim Yeung Yee-woo, the Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association’s honorary secretary, said the attacks were not acts of Islam, but rather motivated by political reasons.
“Their acts are unfathomable to ordinary people,” said Yeung, whose association is one of the most influential Muslim organisations in the city.
He continued: “True believers will not commit such acts of brutality because the meaning of Islam itself is to achieve peace by believing in God.”
Both the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund and the Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association have not received reports of unfriendly treatment or increased monitoring of the local community’s 300,000 Muslims.
“There are no links to Hong Kong and the society understands Muslims in Hong Kong are peaceful,” Minhas explained.
But he said that Friday’s events would bring “serious obstacles to dialogue and peaceful coexistence” of faiths within communities.
The Islamic Community Fund was expecting, for the first time, 250 scholars and preachers of multiple faiths – including Christian and Buddhist – from Japan, Taiwan, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka this Wednesday and Thursday for a two-day conference on dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
A statement condemning the attacks was set to be issued during the conference, said Minhas, adding that they were also considering a special prayer session afterwards.
“We stand with the people of France and humanity,” said Minhas. “We want to combat terrorism together.”
In response to the terror attacks, Hong Kong’s Immigration Department announced with immediate effect that French visitors in the city affected by this incident can apply for an extension of stay if they wish to remain locally.
It was understood that the arrangement was not limited to French nationals; French residents in the city are also eligible.
The authority would consider the background and situation of each case. Under normal circumstances, the authority would approve the applications on the same day. The department informed the French consulate general of this arrangement.
Any enquiries about the arrangement may be directed to 2824 6111.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1879251/strongly-condemn-inhuman-acts-hong-kongs-muslim-leaders
