News

Obama, U.S. Muslims decry fatal shooting: "No faith justifies these murderous and craven acts"

In a ceremony recalling the 13 people gunned down in an attack five days earlier at Fort Hood, Texas, President Obama said the tragedy cannot be supported by any faith. “It may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy,” said Obama at a memorial service November 10 on the army base.

“But this much we do know: no faith justifies these murderous and craven acts,” he said. “No just and loving God looks upon them with favor. For what he has done, we know that the killer will be met with justice in this world and the next.”

The president named neither the suspect, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, an Army psychiatrist, nor his Muslim faith.

On the day of the shootings, U.S. Muslim groups quickly condemned the killings.

“No political or religious ideology could ever justify or excuse such wanton and indiscriminate violence,” said Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council for American-Islamic Affairs. “The attack was particularly heinous in that it targeted our nation’s all-volunteer army that includes thousands of Muslims in all services.”

Mahdi Bray, executive director of Muslim American Society Freedom voiced his organization’s “deep sadness” in a letter of condolence to the base commander over the “un provoked and unconscionable act of violence.” –Religion News Service