Muqtada Al-Sadr denounces New Orleans attack that killed 15

BAGHDAD — Influential Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has addressed the recent attack in New Orleans, emphasizing that those who target civilians do not represent Islam.

“Anyone who seeks revenge against civilians does not represent Islam, whether it happened in New Orleans or anywhere else,” Al-Sadr stated.

The attack occurred on New Year’s Day when a 42-year-old U. S. Army veteran, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The assault resulted in 15 fatalities and numerous injuries. Jabbar, who had expressed inspiration from the Islamic State group, was shot dead by police after opening fire on them.

Al-Sadr claimed that a “significant portion” of the American populace sympathizes with the Palestinian cause.

Full statement of Muqtada al-Sadr:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

We, as Muslims, must not direct our weapons toward Western nations, including the American people, simply because Arab nations suffer from Western, American, or Zionist terrorism. Such actions are undoubtedly contrary to the morals of our religion.

Furthermore, a significant portion of the American people sympathize with the Palestinian cause and reject Zionist terrorism as well as their government’s support for this criminal entity.

Anyone who seeks revenge against civilians does not represent Islam, whether it happened in New Orleans or anywhere else.

Governments do not represent their people—neither in America nor anywhere else.

To the terrorists, “You have your religion, and I have mine.” Do you despise the West because some of them might embrace Islam? Allah Almighty says: “There is no compulsion in religion.”.