New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has condemned the mass shooting of Muslim worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in which 49 people were martyred and several injured. In a statement to the press, JIH chief Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari today said: "we are deeply saddened at the inhuman mass killing of Muslims in two mosques in New Zealand. We condemn the barbaric act of shooting innocent people of faith performing their Friday prayers and broadcasting it live on social media. It is a crime against humanity and its perpetrators must be caught and punished. We mourn this senseless loss of life and pray for the families and loved ones of those impacted by the attack. We are concerned at news reports of 9 Indians missing after the attack and hope the concerned authorities of our country will come out with an official statement regarding their status as soon as possible’’.

Maulana Umari continued: ‘’we commend the stand of the New Zealand Prime Minister who has termed the incident as a ‘’well planned terrorist attack’’, has asked for a change in gun laws. However, we urge our political class and leaders of the international community to understand and confront the evil ideology of Islamophobia that is behind this mass murder and many other hate crimes against Muslims that take place on a daily basis. One step forward would be to draft comprehensive laws that specifically look at identifying Islamophobia in all its forms and manifestations and punishing those who indulge in hatred and communal violence. Indian Muslims have in the past few years seen an upsurge in violent attacks targeting them only because of their religion, in the form of lynching and desecration and destruction of their holy places. We appeal to all peace-loving citizens to come together and fight this menace of Islamophobia and ensure that peace and brotherhood prevails over violence and hatred’’.