In a statement, The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community condemned the attack at the office of Charlie Hebdo in Paris on Wednesday, which left 12 people dead.

Nasim Rehmatullah, vice president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of the US said “Nothing justifies this barbaric and inhumane attack,”

Rafiq Hayat, National President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, said:

“Under no circumstances does Islam permit a person to take the law into his own hands. It is never right to mock the sensitivities of any religion; nevertheless, there is absolutely no justification in Islam for violent response to any provocation.”

Qasim Rashid, national spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, USA said

“While the cartoons may be offensive to Muslims, there’s zero justification for any kind of violent response. Nothing in Islam permits that violent response. In fact, the Quran specifically condemns a violent response.”

“We have to remember that Muslims are just as pained by this horrible attack as anyone else,” he added.

“Rather than waiting for Muslims to condemn it, recognize we do condemn it, and let’s find a way to have dialogue to improve relations going forward.”

Zahid Abid, Imam of Saskatoon, Canada’s Ahmadiyya Muslim community Imam said “It becomes quite frustrating that our first sentence has to be that we are sorry and that this is not Islam,”

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA), an auxiliary of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, also condemned the attack at the office of Charlie Hebdo in Paris.

Dr. Bilal Rana, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association said:

“The sanctity of human life is central to our faith,”

“That lives could taken in this manner for any cause is appalling and unjustifiable.”

AMYA extends its heartfelt condolences to the victims, their families, and offers its deepest sympathies to all those affected by this heinous attack. AMYA will launch a letter writing campaign to openly condemn this act and call for peace and justice to be re-instated.