Somali Imams and Community Leaders Condemn Nairobi Westgate Mall Attack

The Somali Imams and community leaders in Minnesota held an emergency meeting on September 22nd, 2013 at Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center in Minneapolis. The leaders have agreed on the following points:

1. We, the Somali community Imams and leaders in Minnesota hereby strongly condemn the heinous act that took place at Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday September 21st, 2013 in which many innocent people lost their lives.

2. This outrageous act of violence has no place in Islam. The perpetrators of this barbaric act do not share our Islamic values. In fact, extremist groups such as Al-Qaida and its affiliate Al-Shabab have done more harm to Islam and Muslims.

3. We extend our condolences to the victims and their families who lost loved ones in these indiscriminate killings.

4. We reiterate that this form of extremism is a menace to world peace and requires collective cooperation amongst the world community to counteract it.

5. The safety and security of United States is of utmost importance to Somali-Americans and we are committed to be in the forefront of defeating extremism.

6. We call on Muslim youth to shun and reject the trap of being lured to or recruited by extremist groups like Al-Shabab.

List of organizations:

- The North American Council of Somali Imams (National)
- Islamic League of Somali Scholars in America (National)
- Abubakar as-Saddique Islamic Center, Mpls
- Islamic Civic Society of America (Dar Al-Hijrah), Mpls
- Al-Ihsan Islamic Center, St. Paul
- Umatul Islam Center, Mpls
- Darul-Qalam Islamic Center, Mpls
- Minnesota Da'awa Institute, St. Paul
- Rawdah Islamic Center, Mpls
- Masjid Omar (24 Mall), Mpls
- Masjid Shafie , Mpls
- Masjid Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed, Mpls
- Eden Prairie Islamic Center, Eden Prairie
- Burnsville Islamic Center, Burnsville
- Abubakar As-Siddique Islamic Center, Faribault
- Muslim Society of Owatonna, Owatonna
- Masjid As-Sunnah, St. Paul
- World Peace Organization, Mpls
- Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota, Mpls
- Somali Action Alliance, Mpls