In the Name of
Allah, the Infinitely Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
IECOC Press Release
Pilgrims Massacred in
The Islamic Educational Center of Orange County-California
vehemently condemns the heinous killing of over 120 pilgrims who were
participating in the yearly religious procession of commemorating the 40th
(Arabaeen) martyrdom of Imam Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet
Muhammad, in Hilah, Iraq on Tuesday,
Innocent men, women, and children were on their annual walk
to the shrine of Imam Husayn in
Besides the dead, over 237 were severely injured when two suicide bombers, who disguised themselves as ordinary people that traditionally hand-out food and drink to the pilgrims, detonated themselves as the pilgrims streamed by. Although the Iraqi government took extreme measures to prevent such an attack, but unfortunately, terrorist takfirees and radical members of the Salafi sect, who profess to be followers of Ahlul-Sunnah, but are far from it, delivered the mass carnage on Tuesday.
The Holy Quran, Prophet Muhammad, and the true followers of
Islam highly denounce and abhor such killings of innocent men, women, and
children. When such an act is committed by extremist amidst our faith then it
only serves to threaten the division between the Shia and Sunni sincere
followers in
At this time, we pray that the Almighty to accept the innocent souls who lost their lives and pray for a healthy recovery to those injured. Our thoughts and hearts are with the family members who have been afflicted by this tragedy.
IECOC requests that Muslim leaders and organizations in
Sayed Moustafa al-Qazwini
Imam of the Islamic Educational