AhlulBayt News Agency: The Friday prayer leader of Melbourne and head of the Australian Shia Scholars Council has strongly condemned a deadly terrorist attack targeting Shia worshippers at a mosque in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those responsible.
In a statement released following the attack, Hojatoleslam Seyyed Abolghasem Razavi described the assault on the Shia congregational mosque as a clear and brutal example of sectarian terrorism, saying innocent worshippers were once again attacked while engaged in prayer.
“Targeting defenseless civilians in a place of worship represents the peak of sectarian hatred,” Razavi said, stressing that such crimes have no connection to Islam or to basic human values, even if the perpetrators claim a religious identity.
The senior cleric noted that the Shia community has for years been the target of repeated terrorist attacks, warning that continued violence must not be allowed to become normalized or ignored by the international community.
“All perpetrators, their supporters, and those who incite hatred must be identified without delay, arrested, and brought to justice,” he said, calling for firm and decisive action against both the operational and ideological backers of such crimes.
Razavi also pointed to recent discussions he has held with leaders of various faith communities and representatives of the Australian government on the importance of protecting places of worship and ensuring the safety of religious minorities.
“While interfaith dialogue and government engagement continue in Western countries to safeguard religious freedom, Shia Muslims in parts of the Islamic world are still being targeted by terrorist violence,” he said, describing the situation as deeply alarming and unacceptable.
In conclusion, the Melbourne-based cleric urged the international community to adopt serious and effective measures to confront extremism and religious hatred, and to guarantee the security of houses of worship and the lives of innocent civilians.
He emphasized that silence and inaction in the face of sectarian terrorism only embolden extremist groups and undermine global efforts toward peace and coexistence.
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