Muslim Community Speaks Out on Paris Attacks

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Columbia, S.C. (WOLO) — Around the globe, people grieve the lives claimed during the ISIS attacks in Paris. Sharing in that anguish is the Muslim community here in the Midlands. “As any act of violence, it pains us, it troubles us and we are deeply grieved like everyone else,” says Chaudhry Sadiq. Attacks by ISIS and other self-proclaimed Islamic terrorist groups, are cause for concern for members of the Islamic religion. Sadiq explains, “They’re just hijacking the religion and we as main stream Islam or main stream Muslims have absolutely nothing to do with them.” Despite common misconceptions about Islam, members say any form of violence contradicts the core teachings of the religion. According to Sadiq, “Islam, basically itself, Islam means peace. It’s peace and compassion” He says Islamic scripture condemns terrorism, “This is completely out of Islam and under no circumstances are these people considered part of the religion.” Since moving to the U.S. from Pakistan Sadiq has dedicated his life to educating and dispelling myths about Islam. He tells ABC Columbia, “It’s a two way street we need to reach out to the non Muslim, friends and at the same time our neighbors our friends in other faiths and cultures need to find out for themselves what Islam and Muslims are about.” Sadiq explains that it’s only through knowledge and understand of others that humanity will overcome evil. “We cannot give up. If we give up, exactly what the enemies are dreaming, that exactly will happen.”