NEWS RELEASE

Toronto, ON

For Immediate Release - December 27, 2002

ISCC and MAT strongly condemns the recent violence against Christians in Pakistan and India

Islamic Supreme Council of Canada (ISCC) and Muslims Against Terrorism (MAT) strongly condemns the recent attacks on churches in Pakistan and India. According to the media reports 3 innocent girls were killed and 15 other worshipers were wounded on Christmas night in Pakistan while some extremists attacked the church with explosives. Similarly in India several churches in Bengal and Asam came under attack on Christmas night. Three worshipers were killed and several were wounded in those attacks.

Pakistan is a Muslim country and such attacks on minorities in a Muslim country are shameful. According to Pakistani media reports a banned extremist party was involved in these attacks. We believe that this self-claimed Islamic party and its leaders and members are absolutely ignorant about Islam. According to Islamic Shari'a any person who openly and deliberately disobeys Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) OR holy Qur'an can not be considered as Muslim. According to Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) a Muslim is forbidden to attack Churches and places of worship of any religion at peacetime or wartime. According to Qur'an it is forbidden to kill innocent people regardless of their affiliation with any religion. Therefore, these fanatics who are responsible for such attacks are using Islam illegally and must be stopped.

ISCC and MAT warns the Muslims of Pakistan regarding the hateful and un-Islamic agenda of extremist religious leaders in Pakistan. As a worldwide Muslim community we must standup against those extremist self-claimed Muslim leaders who are openly and deliberately abusing Islam. According to Qur'an, and the teachings of Muhammad (Peace be upon him) it is the responsibility of each individual Muslim to standup against evil. The extremist leadership in Pakistan is evil and we must unite against them and stop them from using our peaceful and beloved religion. We must remove all those religious leaders from our mosques and churches who spread hate and violence in our communities. We must not follow them.

Mr. Syed Soharwardy, President and founder of MAT is in touch with the MAT chapters in Pakistan. Syed Soharwardy will be visiting Pakistan in March 2003 where he will be a keynote speaker in several conferences and programs. Mr. Soharwardy will also visit churches and convey the message of peace and solidarity to minorities in Pakistan.

ISCC and MAT urges the governments of Pakistan and India to capture the culprits and bring them to justice as soon as possible.

For more information, contact Syed Soharwardy

(866)-208-6898 OR (647)-294-4833