SILVER SPRING, Md. — Arshad Qureshi describes his reaction when he heard about the murders of 12 people at the offices of the French journal Charlie Hebdo in Paris.
鈥淚t was horror,鈥� Qureshi says. 鈥淎ny civilized human being would be horrified鈥� by the actions of the two gunmen who cut down their victims shouting 鈥淎llahu Akbar!鈥� (鈥淕od is Great鈥�).
Qureshi , the chair of the Board of Trustees at the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring, says the attackers in the Paris killings 鈥渉ave hijacked the name of Islam.鈥� In a statement issued Thursday, the center called the murders in Paris 鈥渂arbaric鈥� and 鈥渉einous.鈥�
Qureshi says Muslims in Montgomery County have enjoyed good relations with the community at large, but when terrorists claiming a connection to Islam carry out violence, members of the Muslim faith can experience tension. The center in Silver Spring has been active since 1973.
鈥淲e have had a few minor issues earlier on, but nothing lately,鈥� says聽Qureshi.
The statement from the Muslim Community Center does mention freedom of speech and how that freedom can clash with 鈥渢he deeply held sensibilities of others.鈥� But Qureshi is quick to say that should not be taken in any way as an endorsement of violent attacks like the one that took place in Paris.
Referring to the murders at the offices of Charlie Hebdo, the statement from the MCC concludes: 鈥淥nce again, the MCC (The Muslim Community Center) completely rejects [these] extremist ideologies used to attack the freedom of speech.鈥�
91欧美激情’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report. Follow on Twitter and .
