Mass rallies took to the streets of Madrid

MADIRD, March 13 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – World Muslims condemned the Madrid blasts, sending it clear that killing civilians is forbidden in their religion regardless of where or who carry out the attacks.

After the blasts, which left 200 people dead and 1,400 others injured, a crowded group of Muslims gathered outside the Islamic Cultural Center in the Spanish capital to raise their voice strongly against terrorism.

"These blasts were not only against the Islamic religion but also the entire humanity," Director of the Islamic Cultural Centre in Madrid Saleh bin Mohammed Al Sinaidi told reporters Friday, March 12.

"We deeply regret that such incidents rocked our city where Muslims live as well," Al Sinaidi said, through an interpreter.

The Center's officials sent a letter of condolences to families of the victims of the blasts, the worst to hit Europe in years in which 10 bombs tore through packed morning commuter trains and three railway stations in the southeast of the capital.

They also asked Spanish authorities to intensify efforts to catch the perpetrators of the attacks, which drew more than eleven million people to Spain's streets in an unprecedented show of grief and fury.

Confusion reigned over whether to blame the Basque separatist group ETA or al-Qaeda network to which a discernible group acclaimed the responsibility in an unverifiable e-mail.

Analysts clearly keep the accusing finger at the ETA separatists, saying the van “clue” could be rather a distraction and the evidence is lacking credibility.

The Madrid government, which is seeking re-election in legislative polls Sunday, March 14, in part on its record of tough dealing with ETA, considers the Basque militant organization its prime suspect in the attacks. 

Other Condemnations

Muslim groups also rushed to slam the blasts as callous and criminal acts.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said it denounces these atrocities "totally and unequivocally".

"The coordinated blasts at the Atocha rail station in the centre of the Spanish capital and at other stations were deliberate and pre-meditated atrocities that were designed to inflict death and destruction on a massive scale," said Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain.

"The hearts of Muslims and all peoples of conscience go out to families of those whose loved ones have been murdered and those who have been wounded in these appalling atrocities," Sacranie said in a press release.

The MCB also condemned the media use of the term "Islamic terrorists" as used by media outlets to describe these clearly evil people who carried out these heinous crimes.

To attempt to link these inhuman and barbaric atrocities to the teachings of Islam and the Qur’an is also a crime that is feeding into the demonization of Islam and Muslims, the MCB said in the release.

"We urge all concerned to exercise the greatest circumspection in dealing with such crimes against humanity which affect everyone in our world community," said Sacranie.

According to Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, a prominent moderate Islamic leader, Islam prohibits all kings of aggressions against civilians.

"Islam does not permit aggression against innocent people, whether the aggression is against life, property, or honor, and this ruling applies to everyone, regardless of post, status and prestige," Qaradawi said in an edict.

"Islam does not hold a double-standard policy in safeguarding human rights, and even aims do not justify ends out of attacking them, he added.

'Revulsion'

Moving to Washington, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) – America's largest Islamic civil liberties group - condemned the deadly bomb attacks at the height of Madrid's rush hour.

"These vicious acts of terrorism deserve the strongest possible condemnation by all civilized people. We call for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators," the group said in a statement on Thursday.

"Those who carry out such crimes only generate revulsion for whatever cause they espouse," it added.

CAIR also reiterated its long-standing condemnation of all acts of terrorism, whether perpetrated by individuals, groups or states.

Immediately after the blasts, the Spanish Interior Minister had said there was "no doubt" ETA was responsible.

Describing the find of the van as “a new clue,” he said the focus of the investigation "remains ETA, but we must be very cautious and investigate other leads."

The Basque militant group has been blamed for the deaths of more than 800 people in its 36-year violent campaign for an independent northern homeland.