The spiritual leader of the Maltese Muslim community said that the recent spate of violent attacks carried out by Muslims in Europe were falsely proclaimed in the name of Islam and have nothing to do with the true teachings of the religion and peaceful Muslims.

“The Muslim community affirms that the terrorists are first and foremost the enemy of Islam and Muslims because they abuse the Muslim faith, tarnish the true image of Islam, destruct the reputation of Muslims all over the world and endanger the Muslim existence everywhere,” Imam Mohammed Elsadi said.

While stressing that Islam prohibits and condemns the killing of innocent people, the Imam said “terror has no religion and no borders. It has no justification and it doesn’t serve any just cause.”

In a statement issued in the wake of the murder of a priest in France by two 19-year-old jihadists, Elsadi said the “Muslim Community in Malta received with shock, sorrow and grave concern the horrible news of the recent series of terroristic acts committed in several countries especially in France, Germany and the United States and the last heinous coward crime of killing the French priest Fr. Jacques Hamel”

He added that the aggression against Europeans is an aggression against all Muslims who live in Europe and a serious threat to their peaceful existence in different European countries.

Over 90% of victims of jihadi terrorism are Muslim and the Imam said “by their savage evil crimes the terrorists expose Muslims, especially the minorities, to hatred, discriminations and sufferings.”

He added that the Muslim community calls upon the international community to join hands against ISIS and all other terrorists who endanger the world peace and stability.

“While the Muslim community affirms that ISIS and other terrorists are the common enemies of humanity and they target Muslims and non-Muslims, it believes that those who exercise hatred and intolerance towards peaceful Muslims because of terrorism are doing injustice to themselves and to the Muslims who are themselves victims of terrorism. Those who hurt innocent Muslims because of terrorism are playing into the hands of terrorists and contribute in materializing their wicked goals to create chaos and instability in the world and cause conflicts and wars among religions and nations.”