Berlin and bus-load of Imams arrived in the German capital on day two of a tour of European cities recently hit by terror attacks.
The religious leaders from countries including France Belgium and Britain are on six-day mission to remember victims and to denounce violence carried out in the name of Islam.
Mohamed Taha Sabri, Imam at Dar As-Salam Mosque in Berlin was emphatic in his statements:
“This is not Islam, this is not religion, these are fascists, terrorists, criminals who abuse a world religion, a beautiful religion.”
Those behind the initiative “Muslims march against terrorism” believe its not enough to say Islam represents peace, they must be more proactive.
Co-organiser and former Imam at the Drancy Mosque in Paris, Hassan Chalghoumi, was also adamant.
“I believe it’s our job, the Muslims in Belgium, Germany, in France, in Italy and elsewhere to say no, no to terrorism and no to hate, no to barbarism. Another message is that of brotherhood and love.”
The Berlin stop was at a church near the scene of the atrocity last December when a driver rammed into people at a Christmas market killing six and wounding dozens more.
Further stops will include Brussels and Nice returning to where the tour began, in Paris on July 14th, the first anniversary of the Nice truck attack.
About 30 imams were on the bus departing from Paris on Saturday, according to Reuters, with around 60 expected to participate in total, from countries including France, the U.K., Tunisia, Belgium and Portugal.(euronews)