14 September 2014
Commenting on the murder of British aid worker David Haines, Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said: “British Muslims condemn unreservedly the murder of our fellow Briton, David Haines. Our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of Mr Haines.”
“David Haines went out to the region to help the people of the region. That extremists chose to murder him only shows once again the depravity of their warped ideology. They have killed so many innocent people in the region, and they perform such murders only to draw attention to their cause of destruction.”
“These extremists in Iraq and Syria claim to be acting in the name of Islam. But there is nothing in our faith that condones such behaviour. Muslims in Britain and around the world have condemned these people, and the arguments they use have been refuted comprehensively as being far from the religion of Islam.”
“At this terrible time, it is important that we all come together in solidarity. These extremists wish to draw attention and recruits to their cause by sowing division and fear between people here in Britain. Let us deny them that luxury. The best way to defeat their extremism is to build even stronger bonds between communities here in Britain.