Grand Mufti of Australia Ibrahim Abu Mohamed has condemned siege of hostages by a gunman in Martin Place cafe located in Sydney.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the Mufti described the act as ‘criminal’ saying Muslims were ‘devastated’ by news circulated in media.
“Such actions are denounced in part and in whole in Islam,” the statement read.
The mufti also expressed solidarity of all Muslims based in Australia with the hostages and their families.
“We along (with) the wide Australian society await the results of the investigation about the identity of the perpetrators and their underlying motivations behind this criminal act,” he added.
Gunman has taken hostages and displayed an Islamic flag against the window of the cafe, police said Monday. Three people were able to run out. No one has yet been harmed.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
