Muslim organisations in Australia have condemned the recent knife attack in Nice, France and called on the French government to promote greater social harmony among its citizens.
France has lifted its security alert system to its highest level after three people were killed in a on Thursday.
The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils released a statement on Friday condemning the attacks and saying there was no excuse for violence against civilians or places of worship.
“AFIC prays for the victim killed inside their church and sends its sincere condolences to their families,” the statement read.
“AFIC is extremely disappointed at political and media rhetoric that blame this violence on religion and struggle, twist, spin and strain to link it to offensive Charlie Hebdo cartoons,” it added.
The statement went on to criticise those in the French “political establishment” who sought to divide French people.
“Political dog-whistling only succeeds when citizens acquiesce to being treated like sheep to be herded by the drover’s dogs,” it said.
Likewise the Forum on Australia’s Islamic Relations also released a statement condemning the “deeply disturbing” attacks.
A woman prays in the street near the Notre Dame church in Nice, southern France. Source: AP
“While many Muslims have been polarised by President Macron’s decision to continue supporting the depiction of cartoons which lampoon the Prophet Muhammad, these gruesome attacks cannot be justified in Islam and go against the grain of Islamic teachings,” FAIR Director Kuranda Seyit said.
“It does not matter how angry you feel about the cartoons, it does not matter if you feel your religion and your prophet have been insulted, as Muslims we must always use non-violence to resolve our differences and be strong in the face of adversity,” he added.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned the attacks on Friday, which he labeled an “act of barbarism”.
“This terrible and disgraceful and disgusting attack that has occurred in France has been widely seen and widely reported,” Mr Morrison told 2GB radio.
“It’s the just the most callous and cowardly and vicious act of barbarism by terrorists and should be condemned in the strongest possible way.”
